Stem cell research doesn't just present challenges in the science lab but in the political laboratory as well.

That has been demonstrated time and again as Democrats and Republicans squabble over what kinds of experiments should be allowed when involving embryonic stem cells.

So normally Gov. Jim Doyle's recent announcement of $2.5 million in increased funding for the Biomedical Technology Alliance would not have the impact that it is having because the GOP legislators could be counted on to alter the plan.

But some Republicans believe there might now be some wiggle room in stem cell research plans that didn't exist as recently as last year. That is when another BTA funding plan was rejected by the governor because of restrictions placed on research by Republican legislators.

Doyle announced that he would propose spending $2.5 million in the 2007-09 biennial budget for research by the BTA, which is a coalition of researchers from southeastern Wisconsin universities - Marquette University; the Medical College of Wisconsin; the Milwaukee School of Engineering; the University of Wisconsin's Milwaukee and Parkside campuses; and Techstar, which helped create the BTA.

That group would be expected to match the state funds, providing a $5 million research pool for investments in various areas of biotechnical research.

A similar proposal died last year after state Sen. Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield, amended the plan to forbid the funds being used for embryonic stem cell research.

Southeastern Wisconsin legislators like state Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser, D-Kenosha, who would like to see the funds used to promote the local research and possibly local spinoff jobs, believe a compromise can be reached.

"I think it can be narrowly defined to take those concerns out of it," Kreuser said after Doyle's announcement.

And Kanavas agrees. "My position on stem cells is very clear. I support even embryonic stem cell research as along as embryos are not destroyed in the process," Kanavas said. "We are trying to move the debate beyond the discussion of embryos, to try to move beyond the need for that. And I am surprised that people are afraid of opening up a new front in this research."

Kanavas said many Republicans appreciate that Wisconsin has been a leader in this research since its inception and can visualize the industry and jobs that can grow out of stem cell research. "It's evident that there is a lot of beef here," he said. "So it is important that we move this debate beyond the specific techniques. But there does need to be limitations on this research. Nobody - Democrats or Republicans - wants cloning. Period. So there are techniques we are going to have a problem with. Yet it could be terrific as long as parameters are put around it."

Kanavas, however, questioned the timing of the announcement, coming just weeks before the November general election. He added that if Doyle's opponent, Republican Mark Green, is elected that Green would likely accept limitations such those he's seeking.

"Anything we can do to transform the Milwaukee area into an innovation-based region, within those parameters, I am for," he said.

Doyle press secretary Matt Canter said the BTA funding could have been done last year but Republicans sought different funding sources and also wanted to add the embryonic stem cell prohibition."Senator Kanavas and some others caved in to the extreme factions of their party" in changing the plan, Canter said.

But he said many Republicans might now be willing to reconsider the program considering its many potential entrepreneurial applications.

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Posted by OMCreader on Oct. 27, 2006 at 11:45 a.m. (report)

milwaukee resident said: The movement against stem-cell research is a political farce. What rarely gets brought up is the fact that we are not talking about a fetus being taken from a woman, but about a few cells not visible to the naked eye grown and fertilized in a laboratory. The reason it gets so much attention is that Republicans are desperate to hold on to power and will use any issue no matter how absurd to achieve that goal. Perhaps the damage being done will be realized by voters when someone supporting the ban is diagnosed with a disease that might have been treatable had stem-cell research been not only allowed but encouraged and financially backed. I for one wholly support the research and hope that we wake up soon and start saving lives.

Posted by OMCreader on Sept. 29, 2006 at 10:58 a.m. (report)

tosa tom said: I've been a lifelong Republican who will be voting for Jim Doyle and other Dems in my district based on this stem cell issue. No matter what Mark Green is now claiming, he voted againist further funding of research and is in the back pocket of anti-embryonic stem cell groups. The fact that the GOP would be againist possible cures for people who are actually LIVING vs. a clump of cells strikes me as obscene. In addition, embryonic stem cells have the potential to add tremendously to our states economy and could be a potential wealth of new jobs and bring much needed business to our state.