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Cracker Squire

THE MUSINGS OF A TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN DEMOCRAT

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Location: Douglas, Coffee Co., The Other Georgia, United States

Sid in his law office where he sits when meeting with clients. Observant eyes will notice the statuette of one of Sid's favorite Democrats.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Good show fellas. Georgia loves national attention: After Change in Federal Policy, Some States Take Steps to Limit Stem Cell Research

As predicted by Gov. Roy Barnes, press for the Empire State of the South is in today's New York Times.

Recently Jim Galloway wrote in the AJC's Political Insider:

Restrictions on embryonic stem cell research — President Barack Obama just lifted federal prohibitions — would send the wrong signal to biotech companies and to the state’s research universities, the former governor [Roy Barnes] said.

It would render Georgia a “laughing stock in the nation,” he said.


The publicity for our State is in The New York Times as follows:

Three days after President Obama announced that he would lift restrictions on federal financing for embryonic stem cell research, the Georgia legislature began a push to limit such research within the state.

The bill, passed by the Republican-controlled Senate on Thursday, bans therapeutic cloning and the creation of embryos for any purpose other than procreation.

Many other states have welcomed the reversal in federal policy, hoping for an infusion of research dollars.

Stem cells may hold the key to treating conditions including spinal cord injuries and Alzheimer’s disease.

Critics said the bill, which is opposed by the state university system, patient groups and fertility clinics, would hamper the bioscience sector, one of the brighter spots in Georgia’s faltering economy. Georgia has put an emphasis on attracting biotechnology companies to the state, and Atlanta is to host 20,000 scientists at an international biotech convention in May.

The bill has not yet been taken up in the Georgia House, which is also controlled by Republicans. But even if it does not become law, its passage by the Senate makes recruitment more difficult, said Charles Craig, the president of Georgia Bio, an industry group. “It’s sending a signal that Georgia is anti-science,” he said.

Gov. Sonny Perdue, a Republican who has pushed the state’s efforts to attract science and technology businesses, indicated he would support the bill.

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