KBH promoting stem cell research
Some excerpts from the Express-News story:

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said Friday that state leaders should work with Gov. Rick Perry and the Legislature to develop a stem-cell research policy that keeps Texas from being "left in the dust by California."

Hutchison, a potential 2006 Republican primary challenger to Perry, referred to a landmark $3 billion initiative to fund stem-cell research passed by California voters in November.

"I think that Texas needs to have a responsible, ethical policy regarding stem-cell research," she said after the meeting. "I think if we are going to stay in the forefront of scientific discoveries, we are going to have to find an ethical way to keep the state-of-the-art experiments on stem cells and how they can displace unhealthy cells in people's bodies."

Robert Black, a Perry spokesman, said the governor will soon announce an aggressive technology research initiative "that will give Texas a significant competitive advantage in the emerging technologies field, and that includes biomedical technology."

"Unlike Sen. Hutchison, who supports embyronic stem cell research, Gov. Perry supports President Bush's position that we must strike a balance between science and the protection of life," Black said.

"It's one of many issues that the Legislature will be facing," she said. "I just wanted to say that it's one that I think ought to be included when we're talking about research."

A few notes:
1. KBH is talking about state Legislature issues. That sends a pretty strong signal.

2. It seems odd for KBH to be making an issue out of stem cell research. That might be a good general campaign issue, but this seems likely to break against her in a Republican primary. It appears to hand Perry an issue where he can attempt to paint himself as closer to George W. Bush than KBH. Also, GOP primary voters probably don't want to hear a candidate contrast California favorably with Texas.
- posted @ 5:24 PM permalink