Karina Wilkinson, Published in Home News & Tribune - Central Jersey on 07/15/05

This letter is regarding the June 23 story, "Piscataway youths press Senate for diabetes cure."

Federal Election Commission reports indicate six companies that engage or are about to engage in embryonic stem-cell research contributed through their company PACs to Congressman Mike Ferguson and Senator Rick Santorum. These companies include GE, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novartis and Pfizer.

Despite accepting their contributions, Ferguson and Santorum oppose their research. In the House, Ferguson voted against expanding the types of stem cell research that can be federally funded. The bill passed anyway in the House with bipartisan support. These companies' financial support for Ferguson and Santorum's reelection campaigns not only runs counter to the companies' interest but the public interest as well.

Rick Santorum and Mike Ferguson are deeply involved in the radical right's campaign to suppress scientific knowledge that conflicts with their ideological obsessions, regardless of the human cost of those actions. Ferguson's vote to stop embryonic stem-cell research, the kind of essential research that could save lives, is one example. Both politicians also voted for cuts in Medicaid for millions of people, which will affect their ability to buy essential drugs and medical supplies produced by these companies.

Mike Ferguson's record shows that he is consistently, even proudly, out of step with mainstream voters from the 7th district, and indeed most New Jerseyans.