STATE POLITICS & POLICY | Maryland Senate Approves $31.2B FY 2009 Budget That Reduces Stem Cell Research Funding
[March 18, 2008]

The Maryland Senate on Friday approved a $31.2 billion fiscal year 2009 budget that reduces funding for the state's stem cell research program to $5 million, the Washington Post reports. According to the Post, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) allocated $23 million for the program in his budget proposal. All of the 31 Senate Democrats present during the vote approved the measure, while seven of 14 Republicans present voted against the budget. The budget now moves to the House of Delegates, where the Appropriations Committee on Friday made its budget recommendations (Wagner, Washington Post, 3/15). The House committee voted to reduce funding for the program to $15 million, according to the Baltimore Sun.

According to the Sun, efforts to eliminate all funding for stem cell research were led by Del. Gail Bates (R). During a House hearing on the budget bill on Friday, Del. John Bohanan (D) persuaded members of the House Appropriations Committee to reject a Bates amendment to eliminate funding. Bohanan said that cutting funding for the program would be a "major hiccup" in the "developing" stem cell research industry, adding that it "would send a bad signal to researchers" (Olson, Baltimore Sun, 3/15).





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