When news broke July 6 that Assemblyman Neil M. Cohen's new proposal to have private investors – not taxpayers – fund stem cell research in New Jersey, it more or less sounded like embryos were off the lab table.

As written, the bill – introduced in the Assembly but not yet debated – would allow investors to contribute up to $500 million over five years to fund stem cell research on adult and umbilical stem cells.

That limited language sounded like it could be good news for so many people who strongly support adult stem cell research but oppose using human embryos on moral, philosophical and religious grounds.

Their optimism was abbreviated by a report in the July 7 edition of NJ BIZ indicating that funding for embryonic stem cell research could be part of Cohen's long range plan. That raised concerns from some of who worked hard to defeat the $450 million bonding plan last year.

Marie Tasy, executive director of NJ Right to Life and a group of Assembly members decided not to waste any time and reacted quickly to the NJ BIZ story with a strong statement. The legislators are Jay Webber, R-Morris & Passaic; Michael Doherty, R-Hunterdon & Warren; Michael Carroll, R-Morris; John Rooney, R-Bergen and Alison McHose, R-Sussex, Morris, Hunterdon.

The statement stressed that they will be on guard as details of the plan emerge. Count on a host of other folks to stand guard with them.

In her usual clear language, Tasy announced the vigilant mood: "We will urge opposition to this and any other stealth effort to circumvent the will of the people unless there is a guarantee expressly written into the legislation that this proposal shall never include funding for embryonic stem cell research,"Tasy said.

The new, "New Jersey Stem Cell Research Assistance Program," would include taxpayer indemnification for private investors when research institutions default on loans. It would also expand the authority of the Economic Development Authority and the Commission on Science and Technology.

As presently written, Tasy said, the proposal sets the "foundation to enact an end-run around the voters to fund embryonic stem cell research. The impractical, immoral and unsafe nature of embryonic stem cell research will ensure a default on loans, guaranteeing tax credits to the financial institutions, which, in turn, will be transferred onto the backs of the hard working citizens of New Jersey through higher taxes."

Several legislators who signed on with Tasy said they were heartened by indications that the state is paying more attention to adult stem cell research.

Webber said adult stem cells offer so much "encouraging and life-saving potential. I also remain opposed to any effort to put New Jersey on a path toward taxpayer-funded embryonic stem cell experimentation which New Jersey voters wisely rejected last Fall."

Trenton lawmakers, he said, should not seek to achieve through the backdoor what they lost at the ballot box."

McHose, a staunch opponent of embryonic stem cell research echoed the concerns of Tasy and Webber that the plan will lead to taxpayer funding. "The NJ BIZ article speaks for itself by admitting that this could open the door to funding. The voters in 2007 said a loud and clear ‘NO' to using taxpayers dollars."

Dougherty directed his remarks toward the financial implications of the plan saying that "New Jersey is broke" and that the private sector should fund such research exclusive of taxpayer contributions and Carroll put both perspectives into perspective.

"It's both fiscally and morally irresponsible for government to be involved in trying to surreptitiously subsidize stem cell research that has never produced cures and involves the destruction of human embryos."