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05/24/2005: On to the Veto Chopping Block...
CNN has this story about the passage of the two bills to increase Federal funding for Stem Cell research. Shy of the 2/3's majority necessary if GW exercises his single solo Veto, the bill did pass the House by 238-194.”…Several representatives spoke in support of the measure, both at the start of the session and during debate.
"To reduce this issue to an abortion issue is a horrible injustice to 100 million Americans suffering the ravages of diabetes, spinal cord paralysis, heart disease, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, cancer, MS [multiple sclerosis], Lou Gehrig's disease and other fatal, debilitating diseases," said Rep. Jim Ramstad, a Minnesota Republican.
…
Lawmakers on both sides of the debate also scheduled news conferences Tuesday. Medical societies, scholars, patient groups and advocates joined Castle and DeGette to speak in favor of the measure.
"What could be more pro-life than working for a cure for a loved one?" asked Rep. James Langevin, a Rhode Island Democrat, another of the bill's 200 cosponsors, who suffered a spinal cord injury at age 16 and cannot walk.
Family members of those with diseases that could potentially be helped by the research also spoke.
"No parent should ever have to look at their child and say, 'There are no more options,' " said Beth Westbrook, whose daughter, Katie, died four years ago at 15 of bone cancer.
…
A poll released Monday shows Bush does not have the support of the majority of Americans when it comes to government funding of stem cell research.
Forty-two percent said the federal government should ease restrictions on funding research, and another 11 percent said there should be no restrictions at all, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll of 1,006 Americans surveyed over the weekend.
But 19 percent said there should be no funding of such research -- an increase from 14 percent in a poll conducted last year.
….DeGette, "Frankly, they're good for different things, so let's not muddle the science."
She and other supporters of both bills argued the two should not be divided.
"Separating these two legislative initiatives would be like separating the flag from the Pledge of Allegiance," said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat.
And, pointed out Rep. Gene Green, a Texas Democrat, "We'll never know the true promise of embryonic stem cells if we hold back federal dollars for the research."
Karen on 05.24.05 @ 07:27 PM CST
