Apr 4, 2008 8:17 pm US/Eastern
Budget Negotiators Restore $19M For Stem Cells
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) ―
Maryland budget negotiators have restored $19 million in funding for stem cell research.
Governor Martin O'Malley had put $23 million in the budget for stem cells. But the House and Senate had both made cuts to help address the state's fiscal woes.
The Senate cut funding to $5 million, and the House knocked it down to $15 million.
Stem cell funding had been a point of contention for negotiators on a conference committee that has been working to iron out differences between the House and Senate budget bills.
Negotiators decided to kick the amount up to $19 million, with the possibility of an additional $1 million, if money from the state's cigarette restitution fund is higher than expected.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)