Crist renews support for embryonic stem cell research

Gov. Charlie Crist, visiting Moffitt Cancer Center today, renewed his support for embryonic stem cell research, even though he declined to act on the issue as governor.

Crist, running as a no-party candidate for U.S. Senate, also sought to highlight the benefits of the federal economic stimulus package during the visit.

Moffitt, heavily involved in cancer research, has received some 31 grants totaling more than $20 million from the stimulus package, said center Director Thomas Sellers. He said that has led to the center producing some 50 patents per year and five start-up companies.

Crist toured some Moffitt labs where research funded by the stimulus plan, through National Institute of Health and National Cancer Institute grants, is taking place.

When he ran for governor as a Republican in 2006, Crist said he backed embryonic stem cell research, even though then-President George W. Bush had prohibited federal funding for most of it by an executive order.

After taking office as governor, however, Crist instituted a state research grant program that applied only to research using stem cell lines approved by Bush's order, a move widely interpreted as appeasing conservatives on the issue. Some other states started state programs funding full embryonic stem cell research.

Moffitt adheres to that order, said molecular biologist Jack Pledger, Moffitt deputy director.

In March, President Barack Obama issued another executive order lifting Bush's restrictions, but a recent federal court decision overturned Obama's order.

In comments to reporters after his tour, Crist said he supports stem cell research and if necessary, would back "a legislative fix" to reinstate Obama's executive order.

"Unfortunately, like so many issues in Washington, stem cell research too often is held hostage by partisan bickering and finger-pointing that prevents progress," he said. "I think that any time we can apply science to improve the quality of life of the human race, that's important to support and we ought to get politics out of it."

Of his actions as governor on the issue, he said, "It's a work in progress in some ways - you take baby steps. You do the best you can to try to continue to move forward and do what's right for the people."

Crist has been seeking to curry support of Democrats in his race against Republican Marco Rubio, who opposes government-funded embryonic stem cell research, and Democrat Kendrick Meek, who supports it.