By John Wagner
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 5, 2006; C05
A bill that would provide $25 million a year in state money for embryonic stem cell research has stalled in the Maryland General Assembly, with supporters struggling to round up the votes needed to head off a threatened Republican-led filibuster in the Senate.
Similar legislation died on the final day of last year's session, prompting advocates to redouble their efforts to convince lawmakers of the research's promise for treating Parkinson's disease, juvenile diabetes and other conditions.
Supporters were heartened last month when Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) announced his support for using state money for the controversial science. But advocates have made little headway in securing the needed support to get a Senate vote on the Democrat-backed bill, which mandates funding in the years beyond Ehrlich's allocation in next year's budget.
"It's the same issue we had last session, and it's the same people," said Sen. James E. DeGrange Sr. (D-Anne Arundel), one of a half-dozen Democrats who last year were prepared to join a GOP-led filibuster. DeGrange and others who oppose the legislation say the research is tantamount to abortion, because it involves the destruction of a human embryo.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) said in an interview that unless concessions are made, he sees little hope of securing the votes needed to cut off a filibuster.
"People have to be willing to budge a little bit," Miller said. "Until that happens, there's not going to be any progress."
Advocates of the legislation are divided over how much to give -- and whether concessions will make any difference.
Some are willing to move closer to a model proposed by Ehrlich that would open up the fund to researchers conducting work on adult stem cells as well as embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells are derived from a variety of sources, including bone marrow, making their use less controversial than that of embryonic cells.
Work with adult stem cells is also further along. But scientists say that embryonic cells may hold greater long-term promise for a wider variety of conditions.
Opening up the legislation to pay for both types of research "might change some people's minds," said Sen. Patrick J. Hogan (D-Montgomery), vice chairman of the Budget and Taxation Committee, which must sign off on the legislation before it reaches the floor.
Some bill supporters, however, say that it makes little sense for the state to subsidize adult stem cell research. Maryland is among a growing number of states that became interested in funding the embryonic research after a 2001 executive order from President Bush that limited federal support for the work.
"We're trying to give money to embryonic stem cell research, because President Bush cut it off," said House Majority Leader Kumar P. Barve (D-Montgomery). "Adult stem cell research has plenty of funding."
The House passed a bill last year earmarking $23 million a year for the embryonic research, and Barve predicted the legislation would "fly" through the chamber once Democratic leaders are ready to move it. For now, he said, the House leadership is waiting to see what Senate legislation might look like if it passes. But that could change if delays continue in the Senate, he said.
Some lawmakers are skeptical that there are any changes that could persuade senators to end a filibuster -- a move that requires three-fifths of members. Supporters were two votes shy of that threshold last year.
DeGrange said he could not envision any compromise that would allow him to vote for a bill that includes possible funding of embryonic stem cell research. "For some people like myself, it's a moral issue," he said.
Earlier in the session, bill supporters were hopeful that they could persuade a couple of Republicans to break with their party and stand against a filibuster. Two GOP senators from Howard County -- Sens. Sandra B. Schrader and Allan H. Kittleman -- voted for the bill last year in committee but were prepared to stand with their party on the filibuster.
This year, Schrader and Kittleman have said they are supporting the governor's approach, and leading Democrats no longer believe they will help bring the legislative measure to a vote.
Ehrlich's plan would provide $20 million next year, and he included money to pay for it in the budget he submitted to lawmakers. Ehrlich said in a recent interview that he envisions spending on stem cell research to continue into the future, but he would not commit to a figure. The Democratic bill would mandate that Ehrlich and future governors spend $25 million a year on the research.
On Wednesday, a legislative panel will take its first look at Ehrlich's plan, which leaves it to a state-founded technology development corporation to decide what research to fund.
The Democratic bill cleared its first hurdle in the Senate last week, surviving a 6 to 4 vote of the health committee. The legislation is now parked in the budget committee, which must also approve it before it goes to the floor.
"It will sit there for awhile," Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George's), the panel's chairman, said last week.
Miller, the Senate president, said he is certain that if a stem cell bill emerges, it will contain less than $25 million a year in funding.
Miller also cautioned those planning to filibuster that he is considering scheduling debate to start on a Friday and run all weekend.
"People who screw with the business of the Senate are going to feel the pain," he said.