Voters choose fiscal restrain in New Jersey

A recent ballot measure in New Jersey asked voters whether they wanted to approve $450 million dollars in bonds to fund stem cell research in the state. Despite wide-spread support for stem cell research in the state, and despite a similar measure passing in California a few years back, voters rejected the measure. This quote from a political consultant for the pro-funding side sums it up well:

Mr. Oster said that although polls conducted in July, shortly after Mr. Corzine signed legislation placing the measure on the ballot, showed that nearly 7 in 10 New Jersey residents supported the research, organizers in favor of the bill also noted than barely 4 in 10 supported using state money to pay for it.

Newsflash to the GOP (and to politicans of all stripes) - Real People understand the need for financial restraint. They don't want their money wasted when there are private solutions available.

Statists would like us to believe that if the government, particularly the federal government, does not fund stem cell research then no one will. Research by the Reason Foundation from a couple years ago shows that is not true.

Already there is nearly $4 billion in private and state monies committed to stem-cell research over the next decade, with another three-quarters of a billion dollars under active consideration.

That's some real money. My guess is that money is going to be used more judiciously and have more results demanded of it than government money will, and that means cures sooner.