Stem Cell update
Some of you may remember Earl Jones' push to have North Carolina fund stem cell research. If not, click here for the story from last summer.
And here's a link to information on the bill itself.
That bill got stalled in the push to end the legislative session last summer, although Jones did wrangle a "study committee" to look at the issue. Study committees are the legislatures way of saying "hey, we couldn't get this done, but we think it's important so we'll keep the idea alive."
That committee next meets "Thursday April 27, 2006 in room 544 of the Legislative Office Building, 300 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon," according to a news release from Jones' office. Also from that release:
The Committee Chair, Representative Earl Jones invites members of the public with interest in this issue to attend, there will be an opportunity at the end of the meeting to address the Committee. The North Carolina House Select Committee on Stem Cell Research was established in 2006. The Committee is charged with studying the State's role in stem cell research, including enacting laws limiting or expanding current research efforts and providing State funds to scientists doing research in this area. The Committee consists of members of the North Carolina House of Representatives.The Committee will examine a variety of issues related to stem cell research including funding, ethical concerns, economic impact, health and wellness potential, the State's role in these issues, and recommendations to the North Carolina House of Representatives. As part of the information gathering process, the Committee members are interested in public input. Individuals who wish to address the Committee may sign-up immediately prior to the hearing and are asked to limit comments to 2 minutes. Speakers are also asked to furnish a written copy of their comments if possible.
Last summer, Jones thought there might be some way to wrangle this funding into a budget bill that would be considered during the short session that begins in May. But with the honorables hoping to set a land-speed record for adjourning, that possibility has dimmed a bit.
The stem cell debate, at least from a political perspective, is intertwined with the abortion debate. Pushing the stem cell funding bill would be a good way to slow down the short session, provoking vigorous debate both on the floor of the House and in and about the General Assembly building.
Jones told me a couple weeks ago he now aims to reintroduce the stem cell bill in early 2007 at the start of the next legislative session. Of course, that's if he wins his re-election bid this year. (Jones has a Republican challenger with a pretty good political pedigree this fall.)