Florida Governor Bush Opposes Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Funding 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 22, 2005
Philadelphia, PA (LifeNews.com) — Florida Governor Jeb Bush attended a meeting of biotech lobbyists Tuesday and said he opposes destructive embryonic stem cell research. He said he was also opposed to using taxpayer funds to pay for it and doesn’t want a research firm in Florida to conduct studies using the cells.
"I think taking a life to create a life is a huge contradiction morally," Bush said to those attending the XXX in Philadelphia.
Bush said he would not support public funding and added that he doesn’t want a Palm Beach county Scripps Research Institute facility to engage in the unproven research.
To that end, he met with Scripps President Richard Lerner and he told the Associated Press he has received assurances that it won’t happen. Bush said Lerner didn’t try to change his mind and even downplayed the importance of embryonic stem cells.
Bush, who was successful in getting the Scripps facility to come to Florida, attended the biotech conference to pitch Florida as a potential site for other biotech firms.
Polls show most Americans agree with Bush on the controversial issue.
A May poll by International Communications Research, found 52 percent oppose federal funding of embryonic stem cell research while just 36 percent support it.
The survey finds opposition to the unproven research growing as a similar poll conducted by the research firm in August found 47 percent to 43 percent opposed taxpayer funding.
Meanwhile, 60% favored funding only the research avenues that raise no moral problem, while 22% favored funding all stem cell research including the kind that involves destroying embryos.
