Obama, Gingrich agree on boosting research

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama and GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich agree research to improve health is part of the solution to rising healthcare costs.

Research!America, non-profit group working to make research a higher national priority, said Obama, a

Democrat, and Gingrich, running for the Republican nomination, have both returned questionnaires. All

presidential candidates were invited to participate.

Both Obama and Gingrich agree boosting investment in medical research creates jobs that benefit a wide variety of industries.

However, their positions on embryonic stem cell research differ.

"For too long, patients and families have suffered from debilitating, incurable diseases and we know that stem cell research offers hope to millions of Americans across the country. I am committed to supporting responsible stem cell research now, and in the future," Obama said in his response to the questionnaire.

"I strongly support adult stem cell research," Gingrich said in his questionnaire. "I will oppose at every turn any process of destroying embryos."

In the area of global competitiveness, Gingrich said: "Considering today's American tax and regulatory systems, it is increasingly likely that the full implementation of the new (scientific) knowledge will first occur outside the United States and be imported by us. This will be tragic for Americans."

"To compete for the jobs and industries of our time, we have to make America the best place on earth to do

business and out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world," Obama said. "I have called for a level of research and development we haven't seen since the height of the Space Race."