" Top fiscal lawmakers from the two chambers have disagreed annually on how much money should go to a program created in 2006 that promotes state-funded research for stem cells. Money for the program, called the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, comes through an appropriation in the state budget.

" The Senate historically has sought to trim Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposals for the program, while the House has backed the governor’s requests.

" This session, the House again agreed with O’Malley and set funding for the program at $12.4 million. The Senate slashed $2 million in its spending plan, keeping funding for the program flat.

" “This is a prudent approach to continue to protect our strengths in this area,” said Sen. Richard Madaleno, D-Montgomery. “This is a prudent approach to continue to fund research that is unique to the institutions of our state while at the same time recognizing we don’t have money for everything.” "

" The initiative also pledged $20 million annually for stem-cell research, but budgetary constraints have kept O'Malley from that goal. Only $10.4 million was appropriated for fiscal 2011, down from $12.4 million in fiscal 2010 and $18 million in fiscal 2009. "

" Democrats rejected a variety of amendments offered by Republicans on Wednesday night.

One would have cut a provision that gives state employees who have endured three years of furloughs a $750 bonus. Another would have cut $12 million for stem cell research. Democrats also rejected an amendment that would have prohibited illegal immigrants from receiving in-county tuition at community colleges. "

" At times during Wednesday's debate, Republicans used the budget as a platform to launch to into other issues, ranging from abortion to stem cell research to illegal immigration. "

" Doctors and researchers involved in embryonic-stem-cell experiments in Maryland and nationwide fear that potentially life-saving discoveries are being jeopardized by a judge who has blocked federal funding for such research. "

" Alan Trounson, president of the California stem cell agency known as CIRM, said in an interview Tuesday that his organization plans similar agreements with state-supported stem cell organizations in Massachusetts, Wisconsin and New York, and already has similar partnerships with agencies in six nations. "

"In its first year of funding, the Maryland Stem Cell Commission awarded 24 grants to researchers at universities and life sciences companies."