Hotmail
Stem cell funding, a silver bullet for Democrats?
FactBox: The stem cell funding bills |
The bill passed by the House last year, as well as the one the Senate will vote on next week, permits federal funding for research if the stem cells are: — derived from embryos donated by in vitro fertilization clinics; — in excess of the need of the individuals seeking fertility treatment; — otherwise going to be discarded; — donated by individuals with their written informed consent and without any financial or other inducements. The Senate will also vote on a bill to outlaw the donation of human fetal tissue if a pregnancy was deliberately initiated to provide such tissue and another bill to promote federally-funded research on the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells. |
FIRST READ |
 |
Where Santorum stands
Santorum, locked in a tough race with Democrat Bob Casey, said the principle at stake is that “once life is created, it should be protected. In a world in which there’s a lot of gray, this is an area which deserves very clear protections for human life.”
Santorum accused Casey of being “somewhat obtuse” and “rather unclear” on the Senate bill.
But Casey spokesman Larry Smar said Casey “has been very clear about this issue” — he opposes federal funding of embryonic stem cell research that goes beyond the current administration parameters.
As Casey’s stance indicates, there’s no party unanimity on this issue among Democrats. Nor is there among Republicans.
Of the five Republican senators considering seeking the presidential nomination in 2008, three -- George Allen of Virginia, Sam Brownback of Kansas and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska -- voted against it. John McCain of Arizona and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, broke with the president and supported expanding the research.
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., was the only Democrat to oppose the bill. He often departs from the majority of Democrats. Nelson is up for re-election this November in a state which is predominantly Republican.
An opponent of funding embryonic stem cell research, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., said he can’t imagine Bush not vetoing the bill.
Republicans at risk?
The 50 House GOP members who voted for federal funding include five who are in what the non-partisan Cook Political Report rates as “toss up” races: Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania, Clay Shaw of Florida, Rob Simmons and Chris Shays of Connecticut, and Heather Wilson of New Mexico.
These members can argue that they voted their conscience and weren’t shy about opposing their party’s president. Their Democratic opponents can argue that it is their own Republican president who is blocking the will of Congress and they were powerless to persuade him.
In the case of some Democratic House candidates who are running against GOP incumbents who voted against stem cell funding, they, too, oppose such funding.
Case in point: Rep John Hostettler, R-Ind. Analysts see Hostettler’s battle against Democrat Brad Ellsworth as a toss up.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee slams Hostettler on its web site, saying he “sided with social conservatives against patients with debilitating diseases and voted against expanding federal funding of stem cell research.”
But Ellsworth’s spokesman, Jay Howser, said Ellsworth would have voted ‘no’ on funding just as Hostettler did.
Reuters contributed to this story.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM POLITICS |
 Politics Section Front |
| Add Politics headlines to your news reader: |
Sponsored links
Resource guide