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State had problems documenting stem cell grants
By Mike Riopell
mike.riopell@lee.net
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SPRINGFIELD -- The state had problems documenting millions of dollars in grants it gave to mostly universities and hospitals to support stem cell research, an audit released Tuesday shows.

In 2005 Gov. Rod Blagojevich made the controversial move of inserting millions of dollars into the state budget for stem cell research without telling lawmakers in advance.

Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold says the state doesn’t currently have a budget for stem cell research but doesn’t know what the next year could bring.

The research and its funding has been a thorny political issue because while the research has been billed as a potential cure for several diseases, some see it as a violation of human life.

Tuesday’s audit suggested that the state could be nearly $900,000 over its budget on the stem cell grants. But both Arnold and a spokesman for state Auditor General Bill Holland’s office agree that the appearance of being over budget is a paperwork error.

“It is simply a difference in documentation,” Arnold said.

For lawmakers’ part, they’ve in past years considered various proposals concerning stem cell research, but Blagojevich moved largely on his own to begin awarding grants for such work.

That doesn’t sit well with some.

“Taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for private medical research,” said Dave Smith, director of the Illinois Family Institute.

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Reader comments on this story - 3 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

JustMyThoughts wrote on Mar 30, 2008 10:11 AM:

" I assume you don't visit a physician, after all none of our medical practices are covered in the bible. There's no instructions for creating antibiotics, vaccines, or performing surgery in there either. I'm also a christian, but I believe God gave us brains for a reason! "

BN_Republican wrote on Mar 26, 2008 6:36 AM:

" I agree with fellow Christian, Dave Smith. If God wanted us to know something, he would have put it in the Bible. We're wasting money when it could be better used to hire Christian teachers so that all children, no matter their parents' religion, can hear the True Word of God. "

Jarhead71 wrote on Mar 25, 2008 6:46 PM:

" Hey, How about we all get to call our banks after we bounce a few checks and let them know “It is simply a difference in documentation,” ? Just as soon as we balance our budgets, we will be able to correct any oversights. "
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