STEM CELL OK

Obama Reverses Bush’s Ban on Research

President Obama greets Rep. Jim Langevin (D-Dist. 2) of Rhode Island, who was paralyzed at the age of 16, after signing of the Stem Cell Executive Order and the Presidential Memorandum on Scientific Integrity in the White House East Room. A group comprised of 30 members of Congress and 10 Nobel Laureates gathered for the signing, look on.

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President Barack Obama was greeted with a round of applause from the many scientists, doctors, families, advocates and Democrat and Republican lawmaker proponents, who gathered at the White House on March 9 to witness the signing of an executive order to reverse former President George Bush’s ban on using federal funds for stem cell research.

Attendees had fought for revocation of the Executive Order signed by Bush in 2007 and the Bush Presidential statement of Aug. 9, 2001 that limited federal funding of research involving human embryonic stem cells.

Many Republican lawmakers condemned Obama’s action while former First Lady Nancy Reagan praised the policy reversal. "I'm very grateful that President Obama has lifted the restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research…," Reagan wrote in a statement released after the signing. "Countless people, suffering from many different diseases, stand to benefit from the answers stem cell research can provide.

Obama promised "that we will never undertake this research lightly. We will support it only when it is both scientifically worthy and responsibly conducted." He also vowed that strict guidelines will be developed to avoid misuse and abuse.

Addressing concerns among opponents of the measure Obama added he insures "that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction.

It is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society."

In an interview on the subject of the controversy of stem cell research, Arthur Caplan, medical ethicist at the University of Pennsylvania told CNN that there are 600,000 embryos being stored in clinics, many of which will end up being destroyed after being left behind by couples who no longer want them.

"Better to have something good happen like research that might benefit people in wheelchairs or help kids with juvenile diabetes, than simply have them destroyed at the clinic," said Caplan.

Obama said, "we honor those…, who used their influence to help others and bring attention to this cause - people like Christopher and Dana Reeve, who we wish could be here to see this moment.

"Christopher once told a reporter who was interviewing him, 'If you came back here in ten years, I expect that I'd walk to the door to greet you.' "Christopher did not get that chance.

But if we pursue this research, maybe one day - maybe not in our lifetime, or even in our children's lifetime - but maybe one day, others like him might."

Kellner/Duane Bill will Keep Paratransit Fares in Line

by Diane Moriarty

ssemblymember Micah Kellner (D-Dist. 65) and Sen. Thomas Duane (D-Dist. 29) have introduced a bill that will defend all New York state paratransit riders from the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) threatened fare hike of 150 percent that will increase the fee from $2 a ride to as much as $5.

The bill mandates that paratransit fares be set no higher than what it costs the general public to ride the subway or bus. Kellner and Duane were joined by New York City (NYC) Comptroller William Thompson and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer at a press conference held recently in Manhattan.

James Weisman, senior vice president and general counsel for United Spinal Association, Lawrence Carter-Long of the Disabilities Network of New York City (DNNYC) and Edith Prentiss, president of the 504 Democratic Club also spoke. Duane noted MTA’s dire fiscal circumstances but said, “they shouldn’t balance their budget on the backs of people with disabilites.”

“If the MTA proposed charging higher fares based on race or gender there would be outrage,” said Kellner. “Discrimination against people with disabilities is no different.”

Thompson commended the legislation because “people with disabilities are among the most economically vulnerable New Yorkers” and that greater burden should not be placed on them, especially during tough economic times. Stringer expressed anger at the idea of the disabled being used as “pawns in Albany,” but also expressed optimism that “things will happen quickly” regarding passage of the bill because of the Democratic majority.

While the Kellner/Duane bill seeks fairness statewide the disabled in New York City are well positioned because of a 1993 contract with the MTA which states that New York City would contribute one third of the operating cost of Access-A-Ride to MTA and, in return, MTA would never raise the fare for Access-A-Ride above the mass transit fare.

Weisman, part of the team that crafted the agreement, said, “ We didn’t trust the MTA in 1993 so Access-A-Ride passengers were specifically named in the contract as a third party with the right to sue to enforce the contract should either party breach the agreement.”