This is good news. What appears to have sunk the measure was the economics of it, not the immorality of creating and destroying embryos. The Times article (as is typical of the media) never mentions that the moral issue is not adult stem cell research, but the use of embryos.
New Jersey Voters Defeat Stem Cell Measure - New York Times
TRENTON, Nov. 6 — In a stunning defeat for Gov. Jon S. Corzine, New Jersey voters on Tuesday rejected a ballot measure that would have permitted the state to borrow $450 million for stem cell research.
The sound defeat, coupled with the failure of another initiative that would have set aside more money for property tax rebates, marked the first time in 17 years that voters in New Jersey had defeated any statewide ballot question.
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But it was the defeat of the stem cell measure by a resounding 53-47 percent margin that dealt a sharp blow to Mr. Corzine, who had campaigned heavily for it and had contributed $150,000 to the effort.
Supporters had argued that the borrowing would help pay for research that could help deliver New Jersey from financial distress by bringing additional tax revenue and tens of thousands of jobs to the state. Critics, by contrast, said that New Jersey could not afford to add to the state’s surging debt load of $30 billion.
Though recent polls had indicated that the initiative would pass easily, a coalition of conservatives, anti-abortion activists and the Catholic church conducted a last-minute advertising blitz against it.
“I don’t think the majority of New Jerseyans are against stem cell research,” said Richard J. Codey, the State Senate president. “I think they were sending us a message. The message is, ’Get your fiscal house in order first.’ ” He said he would meet with Governor Corzine tomorrow and they would talk about the issue and whether they should bring this back before the Legislature.
But at midnight, Mr. Corzine’s press secretary said the governor was not ready to concede. “Regardless of the outcome, New Jersey will continue to create a climate where stem cell research can thrive,” said the spokeswoman, Lilo Stainton.
Mayor Steve Lonegan of Bogota, a former Republican candidate for governor who is now the New Jersey leader of a conservative group called Americans for Prosperity, had a different view. “These were faits accomplis four weeks ago,” he said. “No one thought we had a chance. But we had a powerful message. This is the power of ideas versus big government. This is just a group of taxpayers saying enough is enough, we’re taking back our state. We went hand to hand arguing our point. And you know what? New Jersey is not the hopelessly liberal state that people think it is.”
I believe this is a direct result of the 40 Days for Life that was taking place in New Jersey. See the good that can happen when the Church becomes involved!
Posted by: Eileen Peterson | November 08, 2007 at 11:09 PM