Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2006 > April > 13
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Stem cell salvage operation
Governor to create a blood bank intended to aid research, despite bill's failure
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Friday, Gov. Sonny Perdue will do by executive order much of what S.B. 596, which failed in the final minutes of the 2006 Legislature, would have done for stem cell research in Georgia.
Most importantly, Perdue will announce the establishment of a bank for umbilical cord blood, to encourage potentially life-saving, non-embryonic stem cell research — the kind that everyone agrees is a good thing.
One small clue to Perdue’s intentions is the fact that the governor has included in the day’s ceremonies state Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth), author of S.B. 596.
But a larger tip-off comes from a member of Georgia’s scientific community, who tells us that, yes, the governor intends to announce the creation of a stem cell bank. And a commission to over see it, made up of movers and shakers in the state’s embryonic (pardon the pun) biomedical industry.
This last part is important. Though they didn’t oppose the bill that died, an earlier version unsettled some medical researchers. Scratch that. It scared the bejeezus out of them.
A state-sponsored commission on the subject would insure that science has a seat at the table when the topic comes up again next year.
The unanswered question is what kind of funding the stem cell bank will have. That, say researchers, is the truest indication of commitment.
A guide to Fulton’s explosion of cities
Perfect for refrigerator posting, since it shows the county carved up like an Easter ham
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts sent a chart out late Thursday, breaking down the current status of new cities in his county, when each one takes effect, etc.
It looks to be a handy document. Here is the link.
