Posted on 12/16/2005 9:20:04 PM PST by Coleus
A bill to support adult stem cell research may have passed in the House by a 431-1 vote, but Senate Democrats blocked it on Thursday.
They prevented consideration of the bill that would provide $79 million in federal funding for the collection and storage of umbilical cord blood because they favor an embryonic stem cell research proposal. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist tried to bring up HR 2520 on Thursday, but pro-abortion Sen. Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, said he only wanted to allow a vote on it if Frist would agree to a vote on HR 810.
That's a measure that would overturn President Bush's limits on any taxpayer funding of new embryonic stem cell research because it destroys human life. It would also allow the destruction of human embryos at fertility clinics.
Frist said he would not consider the measures together because the cord blood bill has tremendous support while the embryonic bill is controversial.
"We can benefit people dying today," Frist said of the cord blood bill, adding, "Now is the time to make this registry nationwide."
Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, who sponsored the cord blood measure in the Senate and supports the embryonic stem cell legislation, said, "I think we should take the majority leader's word that he'll bring [HR 810] up" next year, CQ Today reported.
In October, Frist reached an agreement with Sen. Arlen Specter, a sponsor of the embryonic bill, to allow votes on both in early 2006. Specter said he would try to attach his measure to the HHS funding bill if Frist allowed a vote on the adult stem cell research bill but not his.
President Bush has said he will veto the embryonic stem cell research bill if it's passed.
In a statement provided to LifeNews.com, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, blasted the Senate Democrats for holding up the adult stem cell bill.
"While Democrats repeatedly accuse Republicans of putting politics before science, in truth, Senate Democrats are the ones who are playing politics with stem cells and with patients' lives," he said.
The cord blood bill would establish and authorize funding for an umbilical cord blood bank network that would encourage research and treat diseases. While embryonic stem cells have yet to cure any patients, adult stem cells have already provided dozens of treatments and will cure thousands of patients annually with more support.
Umbilical cord blood contains hematopoeitic progenitor cells -- the same kind of stem cells found in adult bone marrow -- that could be used to treat patients with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia and several other diseases.
True to form, the RAT party of obstructionists!
Dems are not interested in ANYTHING unless it kills someone.
It is truly the disgraceful party of death!
Abortion trumps all for these cretins. Adult stem cells don't require the death of a fetus.
Haven't there been more breakthroughs with adult stem cells than with embryonic?....in fact, it seems to me there's been NOTHING accomplished with embryonic...
Adult stem cell research has already had benefits and saved lives. Embryonic stem cell research has nothing. SO of course the Dem's chose the wrong side, as always
#5- yes. But the Dems are Dems, they don't like success
The second most immoral group are republicans, because they do not loudly call the democrats out every day. Evil triumphs because the good do nothing, and nothing frightens evil more than a bright light.
Welcome to the Democrats, aka the Luddite Party.
Somebody please help me out. How exactly does a single senator of the minority party block a vote on any bill? Who is really in control of the Senate?
By objecting. The operating principle of the Senate is unanimous consent. In order to get around a recalcitrant Senator, the Senate has the tool of cloture.
I think this website needs a lesson in Government 101 that deals with the rules of the Senate. Amazed at some of these questions when we have been down this path over and over again on judicial nominations.
Rules of the Senate is Government 400 ;-)
Amazed at some of these questions when we have been down this path over and over again on judicial nominations.
I have to look it up myself after a lapse of a couple weeks. I figure FR is the premier website for educating neophytes.
It's a very different process in the Australian Senate.
Down here, if you've got the numbers you win. Anyone who objects is more than likely steamrolled. At the moment, the Howard Government has the numbers. Right now, I like the system.
We got Daschle out of office a year ago.
Time to target Harkin.
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