Survey: N.J. Voters Support $250 Million Stem Cell Research Bond Initiative by 2-1 Margin - - Over T

TRENTON, N.J., March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- By a wide margin of 61-31 percent, New Jersey registered voters back a statewide bond initiative to raise $250 million for stem cell research, according to a new Hart Research survey conducted for Results For America (RFA), which is a project of the nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute. Over four out of five (83 percent) state residents said that they think voters should decide the question of state funding for stem cell research, compared to only about one in 10 (11 percent) preferring to have state lawmakers handle the question.

Even on an unaided basis, the healthy level of support for the ballot measure includes Catholics (57 percent), independents (65 percent), Democrats (73 percent) and Republicans (40 percent). Overall support for embryonic stem cell research on an unaided basis stood at a strong 68-24 percent, including comfortable majorities of Catholics (60 percent), independents (73 percent), Democrats (77 percent), and a plurality of Republicans (with 50 percent in favor and 41 percent opposed).

Civil Society Institute Senior Fellow Gail Pressberg said: "This survey shows widespread support in New Jersey for letting the public decide the fate of state funding for stem cell research. Most voters want to see stem cell research get a full opportunity to explore possible cures to such diseases as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and others."

Fred Yang, senior vice president, Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., said: "It is rare to see such strong support across the board for a widely debated issue of this sort. One conclusion that you have to draw from data showing majority backing for a stem cell research ballot measure in certain pockets -- Roman Catholics and independents -- is that this issue is not nearly as controversial as some people make it out to be. New Jersey residents are just like most other Americans who want to see stem cell research reach its full potential."

The full text of the New Jersey state stem cell bond initiative question in the survey reads as follows: "Now I am going to read you the wording of a ballot initiative that may be on the ballot in November 2005: 'Shall the State of New Jersey issue bonds in the amount of two hundred and thirty million dollars for the purpose of funding adult and embryonic stem cell research. The grants would be judged by international experts on stem cell research as to their potential in developing into cures. An ethics review panel also would review the grants to ensure that all research conducted complies with federal and New Jersey guidelines. The grants would be given out over a seven-year period, and the State of New Jersey would receive five percent of all royalties on any medical breakthroughs produced with research funded by the grants.' Based on this wording, if the election were held today, would you vote 'yes' on this initiative, or would you vote 'no'?"

In addition to strong backing for the statewide ballot measure and embryonic stem cell research, New Jersey voters also indicated majority backing at 77-16 percent for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) -- so-called "therapeutic cloning" (which is not used to create human life, but only to generate stem cells for medical research).

The Hart Research survey of 605 New Jersey voters was conducted March 8- 10, 2005. Complete survey results are available online at http://www.ResultsForAmerica.org.

METHODOLOGY

Peter D. Hart Research Associates interviewed 605 registered New Jersey voters who report that they are likely to vote in the 2005 election. The sample is scientifically representative of voters statewide. Voters were contacted using a random digit dial (RDD) method of interviewing, and interviewing was conducted from March 8-10, 2005. The survey carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4.0 percent for the entire sample. The margin of error is higher for subgroups of the entire sample.

ABOUT CSI/RFA

Results For America (http://www.ResultsForAmerica.org) is a project of the Civil Society Institute (CSI). The mission of CSI is to serve as a catalyst for change by creating problem-solving interactions among people, and between communities, government and business, that can help to improve society.

RFA seeks to shape and tap the tremendous amount of community-level knowledge, experience and innovative action that could solve America's problems in four key areas, including: "Healthy Families, Healthy Economy, Healthy America." In this context, Results For American supports a commitment to biomedical technologies and breakthrough treatments and cures for life- threatening illnesses that affect millions of Americans.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A news release and a streaming audio recording of a related news event will be available on the Web as of 6 p.m. EST on March 16, 2005 at http://www.ResultsForAmerica.org.

CONTACT: Ailis Aaron, 1-703-276-3265, or aaaron@hastingsgroup.com, for Results For America/Civil Society Institute.

Source: Results For America/Civil Society Institute, Newton, MA