Yesterday the Massachusetts state Senate passed a bill that would remove some legal barriers to embryonic stem cell research in the Bay State. The Senate vote, carried by an overwhelming majority, is a hopeful sign for both the Massachusetts economy and, more importantly, for people around the country suffering from diseases that may be treated using stem cell based research. Stem cell research holds promise not only for those suffering today, but for future generations that will benefit from scientific advances. The legislation now before the state House of Representatives is a fine tool for promoting the ethical, responsible and expedient use of stem cells in Massachusetts laboratories: it is incumbent for those on Beacon Hill to see that it becomes law.
First and foremost, embryonic stem cell research holds promise for an enormous amount of people. Every lab that works with these cells becomes another setting where the cure for diabetes, a new treatment for cancer or a myriad of other medical advances could be found.
Of course, the cells and the research done on them will not produce results overnight, and much of the hope fostered by such research is bound to lead to disappointment. On the other hand, it is almost unimaginable how we, as a civilized society, can look a five-year-old newly diagnosed diabetic in the eye and tell her that she will have that disease for the rest of her life because we are not committed to doing everything possible to find a cure.
Encouraging an open environment with regards to responsible embryonic stem cell research in the state will also help the Massachusetts economy. Biotechnology firms and universities alike will benefit from laws meant to keep good research in the state; this research not only creates hope, but also jobs. The jobs created are exactly the kind we need: low impact, high benefit positions that will draw money and tax revenue to this state.
The question now becomes why doesn't Governor Mitt Romney support the legislation? The Republican governor no doubt has always had a difficult time dealing with an overwhelmingly Democratic legislature, but that doesn't explain his opposition to this bill. Indeed, according to a poll commissioned by the Boston Globe, two-thirds of Massachusetts residents support research using embryonic stem cells. Romney might have his eye towards a presidential run in the future, but he needs to get his head in this state for the time being. His expected veto of the bill is not reflective of the will of the people of Massachusetts, although it is certainly similar to the positions of the national Republicans.
GOP leaders across the country maintain that embryonic stem cell research is anathema to the sanctity of human life. Don't believe them: this view reflects far more dogma than science. In fact, it is surprising that a party so concerned about the lives of the unborn would be so opposed to measures that would be pro-life for the already-born. President Bush often speaks of the importance of compassion, yet he seems to clearly lack such compassion for people who are suffering from diseases treatable by this kind of stem cell research. The Bay State has no room for such hypocrisy: let's pass this legislation and bring on the cures.
