I was disappointed to read this. He is pandering to the religious conservatives on this, and I hate to see it.
Florida lags in stem cell researchGov. Crist rekindled the debate over stem cell research in Florida when he announced a $20 million initiative to fund research as long as it doesn't destroy any embryos. Crist acknowledged that he might have favored a broader research plan, but he was taking into consideration concerns that some conservative lawmakers have voiced about the research.
"I think we can do it in a way that doesn't need to cause the angst," he said, while calling his proposal "a good start" on getting the state involved in the research.
..."But aside from the political debate, other lawmakers noted that even if the Legislature adopts Crist's proposal, the state is lagging far behind its other large-state competitors.
The Democrats in the legislature, via spokesperson House Minority Leader Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, said Florida's effort pales in comparison in that of CA. Florida is lagging behind.
More troubling, he said, was the effort by leaders to limit the scope of the research. "For a state like Florida that wants to present itself as a biotech research capital, the idea that we would not allow is pretty bad," he said.
These conservatives who oppose stem cell research oppose just about everything anyway..they get "angst" from breathing the air that other less pure folks breathe. Somebody put the pressure on Charlie, and I'm sorry about that.