Codey Announces Stem Cell Initiative
Acting Governor Dick Cody announced $10.5 million in stem cell research, reports NJpolitics.
The funds are meant to be spent on research grants, leading scientists, and clinical trials, says Cody. Of the $10.5 million, $5 million will go to implement competitive research grants, which of course, brings up the perpetual question of the word "competition" in New Jersey. The governor assured that an ethics panel would review the grants and how they were awarded, however, conservative New Jersey will likely use the situation to find an example of favortism in government grants.
One aspect of this story reveals the power that the office of the governor has that is unique to this state. The Acting Governor is still technically the president of the senate, and hence, has the authority to introduce legislation, which is how the larger stem cell project, of over $380 million, is being brought before the legislature.
Forrester hasn't spoken against this decision yet, however, if he does, he is unlikely to denounce stem cell research, and hence align himself with the right wing of his party, but to come out against the spending that will "certainly go to the usual suspects".
posted by Jack @ 5:58 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
I think you're right, Forrester won't denounce stem-cell research, which will force him to make some amends with his party's right wing. But that support will cost him no matter what he does, so you have to respect it. As far as where the money goes, well all you have to do is look at the evaporating Abbott new schools fund.
By the way, I put a post on my site looking for liberal bloggers for your site.They'll email you. Just let me know if I should take it down for any reason.
Hey thanks snitch! You're a helluva contact to find in the blogosphere.
We're thinking along the same lines with Forrester's positioning, except I think that Republican New Jersey will generally be in favor of stem cell research, so I don't think that Forrester will have to engage in the same kind of political log-rolling that Bush does.
It'd be interesting to see polls on the subject. Nationally it's support is more than 70%, I believe. You have to believe that it's higher in New Jersey.
- Jack
Yes, absolutely. Whatever the Republican sentiment is nationally, you have to skew it for Jersey. Kind of like passing by a black hole.
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