Democrats Debate Methods to End Stem Cell Ban

Source: New York Times

Democrats Debate Methods to End Stem Cell Ban

By CARL HULSE
Published: January 2, 2009
WASHINGTON — Thwarted by President Bush in their efforts to expand federal spending on embryonic stem cell research, Democrats are now debating whether to overturn federal restrictions through executive order or by legislation when they assume full control of the government this month.

Both President-elect Barack Obama and Democratic Congressional leaders have made repealing Bush administration restrictions announced in 2001 a top priority. But they have yet to determine if Mr. Obama should quickly put his stamp on the issue by way of presidential directive, or if Congress should write a permanent policy into statute. The debate is not academic. Democrats who oppose abortion say such a legislative fight holds the potential to get the year off to a difficult beginning, even though the outcome is certain given solid majorities in both the House and the Senate for expanded embryonic stem cell research.

“It is a very divisive issue, and it is a tough way to start,” said Senator Ben Nelson, a moderate Democrat from Nebraska. “You don’t want to stumble out of the box.” In addition, many of the Democratic gains in Congress, particularly in the House, have come in more conservative areas, with strategists estimating that up to 70 Democrats could find themselves in competitive races in 2010. Those potentially vulnerable lawmakers provide another consideration for leaders weighing whether to set an early test vote on what for some is a politically sensitive subject back home.

At the same time, officials note that increasing federal spending on stem cell research is widely popular and has been a signature issue for Congressional Democrats in the last two elections, helping them defeat Republicans opposed to the concept. Many lawmakers would like to see it through to its legislative conclusion.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/03/washington/03stem.html?_r=1&hp

Act like it!!

Presidential Directive!!

That would be a great start.

We own the goddam rethugs NOTHING!!

The good news is that I do expect MUCH from Obama

for the past eight years, we could now have been very close to the cure for so many horrible diseases. PRESIDENTAL DIRECTIVE. I think I'll start emailing now.

2nd step, Make the Republicans pass it. Because its attached as a rider to an appropriation bill dealing with bowl weavel eradication or something. Or as a condition some gun law change. Make the NRA twist their erstwhile allies arms. Either would be fun.

and allow Republicans to opt out of stem cell research involving their stem cell crap.

nt

of DEMS!!!

Anybody see anything fucking WRONG or at least DISTURBING in this little notice?!?!

WE WON yet "some" fear doing what we FOUGHT FOR!!!

Good god, if "we" don't get ovet this shit FAST, we're in for a sorry four years, until such time as the REPUKES will win it back and wreak havoc out of the starting box again!!!

What good was it voting for a DEMOCRAT if they are in fear of CHANGING anything the repukes did for fear of "offending" those repukes!!!

WE WANT DEMOCRATS TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTY IDEAS AND ISSUES!!!

Reid and Pelosi have GOT to GO!!!

In 1998, privately funded research led to the breakthrough discovery of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC). This prompted the Clinton Administration to re-examine guidelines for federal funding of embryonic research. In 1999, the president's National Bioethics Advisory Commission recommended that hESC harvested from embryos discarded after in vitro fertility treatments, but not from embryos created expressly for experimentation, be eligible for federal funding. Even though embryos are always destroyed in the process of harvesting hESC, the Clinton Administration decided that it would be permissible under the Dickey Amendment to fund hESC research as long as such research did not itself directly cause the destruction of an embryo. Therefore, HHS issued its proposed regulation concerning hESC funding in 2001. Enactment of the new guidelines was delayed by the incoming Bush administration which decided to reconsider the issue.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell_controversy

I've got friends and relatives who need the benefits of stem cell research right now. Advancing science in this country into the 21st century ought to be a no-brainer.....