Scientists decry President Bush's veto of stem-cell bill
Senate may yet override decision, but House falls short of needed votes.
For the second time in less than a year, President George W. Bush yesterday vetoed legislation that would lift restrictions on US federal funding for human embryonic stem-cell research. The bill, passed by the Senate and the House, allows government funding for research on stem cells derived from embryos that are left over at fertility clinics and slated for destruction. "I will not allow our nation to cross this moral line," Bush said.
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The Executive Order did, however, attempt a singular political sleight-of-hand. Back in August 2001, when the President first considered stem cell policy, he enacted a compromise that allowed funding for research on a limited number of embryonic stem cells that had been previously derived. These cell lines (far fewer and less useful than originally claimed) were collected into the "Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry" for distribution to qualified scientists. The establishment of the registry infuriated those members of the President's political base who rejected all research on anything "embryonic." To rectify his prior political mistake, President Bush used his June 20 Executive Order to eliminate "embryonic" from the registry's name. From this point forward, the "Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry" will be called the "Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Registry." George Orwell must be smirking in his grave.
Posted by: Lee Silver | June 22, 2007 05:30 PM
Just few days before he vetoed stem cell bill he was seen with Pope seeking his blessings.
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/09/bush.europe/index.html
Now does his veto on stem cell bill be a surprise for us.
P.S.: Please note this comment as a political sarcasm and not to hurt any religious sentiments.
Posted by: Gaurav Joshi | June 23, 2007 10:26 PM
Recently, The Monash University of Australia announced that its researchers were able to replicate prostate tissue from embryonic stem cells on the skin of mice. However, the big surprise emerged when the organization funding the research was announced. It was the US military. Therefore, at least someone is benefiting from the presidential ideologies. It is uncertain which other nations are receiving funding from American organizations. One thing is certain though, America is losing out.
Posted by: Erol Copelj | June 24, 2007 01:28 PM