Maryland Should Heed Public Clamor and Support Stem Cell Research – Human Cloning Foundation

The Human Cloning Foundation (HCF) urged Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. to heed the public clamor and extend state support to embryonic stem cell research.

HCF spokesman David Madrigal said that 60 percent of Maryland voters favor state funding for stem cell research, 27 percent oppose it and 13 percent are not sure, according to a telephone poll of 1,008 likely voters by The Baltimore Sun from October 28 to November 1.

The survey revealed that Republicans favor state funding of stem cell research, 48 percent vs. 40 percent opposed, up from 42 percent in favor vs. 44 percent opposed in an April poll. Meanwhile, Democrats were 67 percent in favor of state funding vs. 21 percent opposed.

Madrigal said these numbers will certainly go up as more people begin to understand the vast potential of stem cell research.

A number of states have extended financial support to stem cell research and even the U.S. Congress is considering loosening President Bush's restrictions on stem cell research, said Madrigal. He said New Jersey recently allocated $380 million for stem cell research, which state officials said carries "the possibility of ending human suffering."

"We hope that Gov. Ehrlich will realize how important this issue is to the people of Maryland," said Madrigal.

In addition, Madrigal cited a survey by John Hopkins University in Baltimore covering 2,212 people that showed that majority of Americans are in broad support of research using embryonic stem cells – 67% either approve or strongly approve of stem cell research. The survey concluded that "support for research cuts across political, religious and socio-economic lines" and that "there were no significant differences based on age, race, or ethnic group."

Contact: David Madrigal
Spokesman, Human Cloning Foundation
Humancloning.david@gmail.com
www.humancloning.org