“Codey stem cell plan off the table”

So says the article in today’s Star Ledger.

Acting Gov. Richard Codey's plan to pump nearly $600 million into stem cell research will not be approved during the lame duck legislative session that expires next week, dashing the Democrat's hope for the initiative to be part of his gubernatorial legacy.

Why the government—at any level—should be pouring taxpayer money into research that should be paid for by pharmaceuticals is beyond me. The proponents of publicly funded stem cell research have made it sound as though it could lead to cures for just about everything.

I can understand Acting Gov. Codey’s desire to leave some kind of “legacy” and I can understand the desire/need for cures to many conditions they say research of this type can produce (even though I’m skeptical about the claims), but with Gov. Elect Corzine harping about needed tax increases already…well, this is just plain foolish.

At the end of the article we find this:

Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), a co-sponsor of both bills, called the Assembly's decision "a real setbeck (sic)."
"I am concerned it will become a political football to be held hostage and mired behind other issues in the governor-elect's new term," said Buono. "Hopefully, it will pass early in Gov. Corzine's term."

Hopefully it won’t or if it is passed then the Governor will veto it. The state can’t afford this at this time and shouldn’t be involved in this type of research and development at any time.