Kansas Coalition
for Lifesaving Cures
PO Box 394
Topeka KS 66601-0394
Toll-free: 800-821-2658
Email: info@kansascures.com
| NEWS ARTICLE January 5, 2006 AP, TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL |
Poll says Kansans support stem cell research
LAWRENCE -- A recent poll of 800 Kansas voters conducted by renowned Republican pollster Fred Steeper found that Kansas voters overwhelmingly support allowing all types of stem cell research and treatments in Kansas and oppose any state-level bans on stem cell research or treatments allowed under federal law.
By a margin of more than two-to-one, Kansas voters said they support allowing both adult and early, or embryonic, stem cell research in the state and oppose a proposed law that would impose a state ban on the type of stem cell research called Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT).
"Substantial majorities of Kansas's voters approve of both types of embryonic stem cell research -- research that uses leftover embryos from fertility clinics and research that uses the SCNT process," Steeper wrote in his analysis of the results.
"Moreover, they support SCNT research taking place at research facilities in the state and oppose legislative efforts to ban it. The voters' support of embryonic stem cell research exists both before and after they hear major arguments made by opponents and supporters."
Medical research indicates that stem cells could provide cures for diseases and injuries that afflict tens of thousands of Kansas children and adults and millions of other Americans -- including diabetes, Parkinson's, cancer, heart disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis, sickle cell disease and spinal cord injury.
However, some politicians in Topeka have proposed state legislation that would ban and criminalize SCNT research in Kansas and prohibit Kansas patients from having access to any future SCNT stem cell cures.
Steeper found that Kansas voters approve of using stem cells from the SCNT process by a margin of 69 percent to 28 percent, approve of stem cell research using leftover fertility clinic embryos by a margin of 66 percent to 33 percent, and favor allowing SCNT research in Kansas by a margin of 70 percent to 27 percent.
The poll, conducted prior to the holiday season, includes a demographically valid sample of 800 registered Kansas voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent. It was designed and overseen by Steeper and fielded by the national polling firm Market Strategies.
Steeper has served as a primary pollster for President George W. Bush and his father, for Presidents Reagan and Ford, and for a number of other prominent Republicans. Steeper conducted the survey on behalf of the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, a pro-stem cell coalition of patient groups, medical organizations and concerned citizens from throughout the state.
By an overwhelming 79 percent to 19 percent, Kansas voters say they agree that the basic policy of Kansas should be that "any stem cell research, therapies or cures that are permitted by federal law should be allowed in Kansas -- provided that such activities are conducted ethically and safely and do not involve human cloning to create babies."
"The voters' support of such a policy exists both before and after they hear major arguments made by opponents and supporters of stem cell research," said Steeper. "The questioning explicitly informed them that such a policy would allow the use of stem cells taken from leftover fertility clinic embryos and from the SCNT process, as well as the use of adult stem cells. After hearing this information and pro and con arguments, Kansas voters say they would support such a policy by a wide margin.
Also, by a more than four-to-one margin, those who 'strongly favor' outnumber those who 'strongly oppose' by 53 percent to 13 percent."
Steeper found that support for such a stem cell policy extends across all age groups, both men and women, religious denominations, education and income levels. It is also supported by the majority of Republicans, Democrats and Independents.
A complete copy of the Kansas stem cell survey results, Steeper's written analysis and more information about the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures is available online at http://www.KansasCures.com .