Spoiling for a veto fight, Congress cleared legislation Thursday easing restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
The House vote to send the measure to President Bush was 247-176, 35 short of the level needed to override a second veto in as many years on the issue.
“For many, embryonic stem cell research is the most promising source of potential treatments and cures” for debilitating disease, said Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., the bill’s leading advocate.
“Unfortunately, because of the stubbornness of one man — President Bush — these people continue to suffer as they wait,” she added.
The president was unpersuaded.
“If this bill were to become law, American taxpayers would for the first time in our history be compelled to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos,” he said in a statement in Germany, where he was attending a summit of world leaders.
“Crossing that line would be a grave mistake. For that reason, I will veto the bill passed today,” he added.
Bush’s written statement echoed criticism leveled in an hour-long debate on the House floor, where opponents of the measure said the research requires the destruction of human embryos, and that alternatives have shown more promise.
“You’re talking about spare embryos now but if it ever did work ... it would require the killing of millions of embryos,” said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J.
He also said a recent report by the U.S. Catholic Conference listed numerous breakthroughs involving research conducted on adult stem cells, cord blood and amniotic fluid, none of which involve the destruction of a human embryo.
The measure drew the support of 210 Democrats and 37 Republicans. Opponents included 16 Democrats and 160 Republicans.
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My two cents...
It's amazing how this President sat on his hands for five years as the Repugnican Party looted the US treasury with one spending bill after another and he never vetoed ONE! He sat by as the Repugnican lead Congress tore out large parts of the US Constitution and didn't veto ONE. But Stem Cells that can save lives and end suffering? BOOM! He drops the Veto Bomb like it was the capital of North Korea. And he does this because he believes it would "cross a moral line". Such self-righteous nonsense coming from a man who historically only seemed to repect the white powdery line that would ultimately go up his nose?!
Then, Repugnican Parrots like Chris Smith take it one further step beyond stupidity with the "argument" that stem cell research, if it's successful, may lead to the "killing of more" embryos!
Let's jump back a couple decades and look at transplanting body parts. If it's found that a human heart can be transplanted sucessfully, then ultimately we'll be killing people to harvest their hearts. Or kidneys. Or Lungs.
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