New Jersey Voters Defeat Stem Cell Measure

New York Times ^ | November 7, 2007 | DAVID W. CHEN

[Baladas]

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.

The ballot questions offered a rare surprise on a day in which Democrats maintained their control over both houses in the State Legislature. As of midnight, Democrats appeared poised to add one seat to their 22-18 majority in the Senate by winning seats in Atlantic City and Cape May Counties that had been in the hands of Republicans. In the Assembly, Republicans appeared to chip one or two seats from the Democrats’ current 50-30 majority.

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.

[Baladas]

Overall positive election results from Blue Jersey - a defeat for Corzine is usually a victory for all Americans.

[gridlock]

These measures were identified, correctly, as tax increases in disguise. New Jersey taxes are already too high. We don’t need more.

[wideawake]

It was a cold, wet, unpleasant day - those who care about the unborn were motivated to get out and vote.

[JimRed]

It was a cold, wet, unpleasant day...

The district I work had just a touch under 50% turnout (compared with the usual 35-40%).

[Williams]

Hope this results in some relief from the usual posts about how the scum in NJ deserve exactly what they get.

It is VERY hopeful if NJ residents actually figured out the insanity of voting yes every election on a long list of feel good measures at $500 million a pop.

[boop]

"borrow $450 million for stem cell research"

I thought NJ was running a big deficit. Good thing the voters saw through this stupid tax increase.

[mware]

boop, notice how they somehow left out, on the ballot that this was for embryonic stem research.

Luckily just about every Catholic Church in Jersey told their parishioners to vote NO on question #2.

[ex-snook]

"I thought NJ was running a big deficit. Good thing the voters saw through this stupid tax increase."

And the worst kind. I heard a talk-show caller say that tax free bonds would have been issued and that this was a big scheme just to market more tax-free bonds [Maybe someone knows about the tax-free idea]

Of course if stem cell research is such a winner why aren't the corporations making this investment or private investors grabbing it up. Looks like tax payers funding someone else's business adventure.