Stem cell research gets push By Aaron Zitner Los Angeles Times WASHINGTON -- Following California's lead, lawmakers in at least three other states will take up proposals next year to encourage research on stem cells taken from human embryos. The measures also would permit scientists to use cloning to produce human embryos for stem cell experiments. Stem cells and the cloning debate Embryonic stem cells have drawn intense interest because they are able to morph into any type of cell in the human body. Scientists say the embryonic cells hold a treasure trove of information about the basics of human biology, as well as clues to how to cure Parkinson's disease, diabetes and other ailments. Last year, President Bush said that taxpayer money, which funds the bulk of U.S. medical research, could be used for experiments on only a narrow set of embryo stem cells. While there is broad support for a ban on child cloning research, some lawmakers, scientists and patient groups say cloning should be a legal tool for producing human embryos for their stem cells. The legislation is a challenge to President Bush, who favors a federal ban on cloning and has set rules that limit embryonic stem cell research. Congress is expected to revisit a proposal next year to outlaw human cloning for any purpose. In New Jersey, a bill supporting embryonic stem cell research won approval in a Senate committee Monday, and a similar measure was introduced Nov. 19 in Pennsylvania. Aides to Massachusetts lawmakers say a bill will be introduced there early next week. Similar proposals could turn up in other states, as most legislatures have just begun to lay out their agendas for the coming year. In most states, embryonic stem cell and cloning research are already legal, when funded with private money. But by explicitly authorizing the research, the proposals aim to encourage investors who may have been driven away from stem cell companies by fears that the federal government will restrict the research. "Our intent is to bring as many research people into the state as we can," said state Sen. Richard Codey, a Democrat and co-president of the Senate in New Jersey, home to many pharmaceutical and bioresearch companies. "If this in fact passes, money will flow into the state and those firms," he said. "This sends a message that we want stem cell research to start and continue in our state." He said the research holds hope for curing a range of diseases. Similar motives prompted California lawmakers to pass a measure this year supporting embryonic stem cell research, and Gov. Gray Davis signed the bill in September. The Biotechnology Industry Association, a trade group, sent the California law to its affiliates in 35 states and suggested they try to pass similar measures. At least 30 states considered cloning-related laws this year, most of them supported by anti-abortion groups and social conservatives who want to restrict or ban the research. Iowa, Michigan and Virginia in recent years have banned cloning for any purpose, while Louisiana, Rhode Island and California ban cloning to initiate a pregnancy. A handful of other states have laws protecting embryos, which might be interpreted as barring embryonic stem cell experiments. "I think the pro-research side has realized that we have to work a little harder in the states, but it is an uphill battle for us," said Sean Tipton, a vice president of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, which favors embryonic stem cell work. "Traditionally, the other side has been much better organized in state capitals, because they are used to fighting the abortion battles on the state level." Richard Doerflinger of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops saw little significance in states supporting embryonic stem cell work, because it already is legal. "What's significant is that, despite the claims of the research community that cloning means medical progress, a number of states are moving to ban cloning and in some cases ban embryo research generally," Doerflinger said. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., won the support of between 40 and 50 senators this year for a total cloning ban, congressional aides said. That was short of the 60 votes needed to move legislation in the Senate. Next year, Brownback is expected to have at least three additional votes, when Republicans Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, Norm Coleman of Minnesota and Jim Talent of Missouri join the Senate. While the proposals vary, the state measures generally would do the following: Outlaw cloning intended to produce a child. Authorize stem cell research, including work using adult stem cells, cells from unused fertility clinic embryos and cells from embryos created through cloning. Require doctors to tell patients that a fertility treatment may leave them with unused embryos, and that these embryos may be donated for research, donated to other fertility patients or placed in frozen storage. Ban the sale of embryonic or fetal tissue, other than to recoup "reasonable" costs. Require stem cell experiments to be reviewed by an ethics board or state agency, a practice that is not currently mandatory for some privately funded experiments.