Illinois Senate blocks stem cell funding

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The Illinois Senate narrowly defeated a bill to promote embryonic stem cell research by a vote of 29-28, with one dissent.

"We are hushed because we are on the verge of making a massive decision. There's not a weightier decision that we will make," said state Sen. Peter Roskam, R-Wheaton, moments before lawmakers cast their votes on the Legislature's final day of the 2004 fall veto session, the Illinois Leader reported.

State Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Republican who reversed his earlier opposition of the bill, said he came to believe such research could provide a cure for juvenile diabetes after studying the position of U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

"I'm proud to be pro-life. But it's not life in a petri dish at eight or 12 days. ... I agree with Senator Hatch, who said, 'I believe a critical part of being a pro-life legislator is to back legislation that helps the living,'" Dillard said.

Seven Democrats joined the majority of their GOP colleagues to defeat the measure, sponsored by state Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg, D-Chicago.