 Paterson led Spitzer's successful 2007 legislative effort to approve a bond issue which will provide at least $1 billion toward stem cell research.Spitzer and Paterson touted the measure partly for its economic development benefits, following California's $3 billion effort, which in turn had been prompted by the U.S. federal government halting funding for such research.In September 2007, Paterson weighed in on a proposal before the New York City Council to extend voting rights to noncitizens.