stem cells – Hank Kalet

It was the money, not the culture war

My opposition to the stem cell referendum was purely based on money. The state is not in the position to borrow more cash. If it can find a way to finance the research, I’m ready to back a plan.

That’s why protests like this are so disheartening — they make it seem as though voter rejection was about something other than the money.

About 25 activists from New Jersey Right to Life and Lonegan’s group gathered at the construction site of the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick, the centerpiece project of a state program to to establish a world-class effort in stem cells.

Protesters said they want to stop the legislature from spending $270 million already approved for construction projects for stem cell research facilities. Last Tuesday, New Jersey voters rejected a $450 million bond issue to fund the research.

Lonegan characterized the effort as “high-risk, highly speculative embryonic stem cell research that we all know is destined to produce virtually nothing in terms of cures.” As for the idea that such an investment could lead to the creation of a vibrant cell culture economy in the state, he dismissed that as a “phony promise.”

Marie Tasy, director of New Jersey Right to Life, said the state’s stem cell program has been ill-conceived from the beginning. “I think the voters have clearly spoken,” she said.

They have, but only about the money. Let’s not pretend this vote was about anything else.

South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick

E-mail me by clicking here.

Election, Part II

There are those — myself included — who see the defeat of the first two ballot questions as a slap against using budget gimmicks and pushing the state farther into debt. We editorialized against the first three questions for a simple reason: The state is without a plan to address its debt problem or its structural deficit and shouldn’t borrow more money until it crafts one.

I stand by that idea. I hope our elected leaders will listen, address the issue and then come back with the stem cell plan when money is not so tight.

South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick

E-mail me by clicking here.

Get the debt under control

I am a supporter of stem-cell researh. And I support open space. But I can’t support either of the state’s ballot questions because the primary issue in New Jersey this year is the state’s fiscal health. Without a plan for getting debt under control, it seems foolish to me to give the state the opportunity to borrow more. The open space vote is more of a close call — the fund is running out of cash — but I think we can wait a year.

Here is our editorial on the questions.

South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick

E-mail me by clicking here.