By John Wagner
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 26, 2006; B04
Yesterday's hearings on stem cell research in Maryland had a familiar ring: Advocates touted the potential for treating Parkinson's disease, juvenile diabetes and other conditions, and opponents raised the same ethical objections they made a year ago when lawmakers proposed spending $25 million a year on the emerging science.
But it was a voice legislators did not hear, neither yesterday nor a year ago, that could alter this year's debate -- that of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
After remaining mostly silent on a bill that was killed last year by a Republican-led filibuster threat, Ehrlich (R) is pushing a plan to spend $20 million next year on stem cell research.
But Ehrlich is not committing himself on the question that has stirred the most controversy: whether the money should be used primarily for work on stem cells derived from human embryos or from less controversial adult stem cells.
Although the move has drawn some criticism, Ehrlich argued in an interview that he is acting prudently, given the evolving nature of the science.
"I wasn't that good of a biology student. I'm not going to make that decision," Ehrlich said. "The point here is that the decision should be a function of the science. These are fundamentally science questions, not political questions."
The governor would leave it to a state-founded technology corporation to decide whether to provide grants for work on adult stem cells or work on embryonic stems cells, which many scientists say holds greater promise but some in his party consider tantamount to abortion.
Ehrlich, who has supported stem cell research since his days in Congress, said that his public silence last year masked a behind-the-scenes effort to develop an alternate approach that would both bolster the state's biotechnology sector and depoliticize a difficult issue for Republicans.
"The strong pro-life members know the administration does not share their views on this issue, but we wanted to try to lower the temperature on the politics," he said. "I wanted to try to keep everyone's eye on the ball, and I believe this approach accomplishes that goal."
Ehrlich's involvement has scrambled the politics surrounding the issue, making it all but certain Maryland will join the growing number of states subsidizing the research, either with the legislation considered at yesterday's hearings or a provision Ehrlich has inserted into his budget.
Ehrlich said his budget-based approach makes additional legislation unnecessary.
Some advocates of the research say Ehrlich's plan has merit and view it as more likely to withstand opposition in the Senate.
"As long as there's no preference for adult, that's fine," said Robert Johnson, a lobbyist for Maryland Families for Stem Cell Research, a coalition formed during last year's debate that has primarily supported embryonic work.
But the governor's posture drew criticism yesterday from sponsors of the stem cell bills.
In an interview, Sen. Paula C. Hollinger (D-Baltimore County) was adamant that money be spent on work on embryonic stem cells, which is controversial because it involves the destruction of human embryos. Hollinger's bill would restrict research funded with state money to embryos discarded at fertility clinics and establish other rules for funding the science.
"The only reason we're doing this bill is that the president has refused to allow the research to be done," Hollinger said, referring to a 2001 executive order by President Bush that set limits on the embryonic stem cell research that can be funded with federal money.
Her view was echoed by Del. Samuel I. Rosenberg (D-Baltimore), the lead sponsor of the House bill, which passed similar legislation last year earmarking $23 million for embryonic work.
Other lawmakers questioned why a compromise could not have been worked out last session. "We wasted a year, and people still suffer," said Sen. James Brochin (D-Baltimore County).
Some advocates have questioned whether there are enough university and private-sector researchers geared up to spend $25 million on embryonic stem cell research. But that view was rebutted yesterday by Curt Civin, a stem cell researcher from Johns Hopkins University, who was among several scientists to testify at yesterday's hearing.
"Yeah, we can spend this tomorrow," Civin said. "We would be all over this."
Republican leaders signaled this week that they would put up a vigorous fight against any bill that steers money only to embryonic work, which they consider "killing unborn babies," said Senate Minority Leader J. Lowell Stoltzfus (R-Somerset).
"We're going to be opposed to the bill," he said. "We're going to be as aggressive as we can to kill it."
Under the governor's approach, grants would be made by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, overseen by a 15-member board appointed by the governor. Although money could still go to embryonic stem cell projects, Stoltzfus said Republicans are more comfortable with the approach.
Supporters of the Democratic bill say they fell two votes short last year of gathering enough to end the threatened filibuster, which kept the bill from the Senate floor the final day of the session. Lobbying this year will focus on two Republicans who voted for the bill in committee last year but agreed to stick with their party in a filibuster effort.
In interviews this week, both Sen. Sandra B. Schrader (R-Howard) and Sen. Allan H. Kittleman (R-Howard) said they support the governor's approach but declined to say whether they would back a filibuster of Hollinger's bill.
Because Ehrlich's plan is included in the budget bill, debate over the measure will play out among a different set of lawmakers.
Some members of both parties have suggested they might attempt to use the budget process to limit the type of stem cell work permitted -- a move Ehrlich said he would oppose.
"I would discourage both sides from impacting this thoughtful approach that we've developed," he said.
