Palm Beach Pol calls bullshit on Jeb!
Gov. Jeb Bush made clear his opposition to using embryonic stem cells for medical research as scientists gathering Tuesday for the world's largest biotechnology convention said stem cells could provide cures for a variety of diseases.
"I think taking a life to create a life is a huge contradiction morally," Bush said during a visit to BIO 2005.
Bush said Florida would not devote taxpayer money to stem-cell research on his watch and that The Scripps Research Institute would not experiment with embryonic stem cells at its Palm Beach County campus.
......Bush, who personally lured world-renowned Scripps to Florida, came to Philadelphia to pitch the state to the thousands of visiting biotech company executives and venture capitalists.
......Meanwhile, stem-cell research has become increasingly divisive.
In spite of opposition from the Bush brothers and religious leaders, polls show most Americans support embryonic stem-cell research, said Alan Lewis, president of Celgene San Diego.
Even the Republican party is split on the issue. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, for example, supported his state's stem-cell bond issue.
New Jersey is spending $11.5 million to support stem-cell research, while Wisconsin, Illinois and Connecticut have proposed spending millions more. Some openly worry that those biotech-friendly states could leap far ahead of other parts of the country, including Florida.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson wants to change Florida's constitution to protect embryonic stem cell research, after Gov. Jeb Bush said he opposes using public funds for such inquiry.
"I am not prepared to sit idly by while the Governor dictates what research Scripps can and cannot do at its new home in Palm Beach County," Aaronson said. "This is like luring a prize fighter into the ring but tying one arm behind his back."