Now here is something very sad... Why does the House spend so much of our tax money to make it legal to spend more tax moeny to kill babies?
It amazes me that so many people think that it is OK to kill children! I firmly believe the research should be done, but it should be done with adult cells not embryonic! Besides all of the break thoughs have been made with the adult, so why push the agenda? It seems so sad to me that people still fight to distory instead of save.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-01-11-stem-cell_x.htm?csp=34
Bill's backers predict end to stem cell limitsUpdated 1/11/2007 8:58 PM ET
By Kathy Kiely, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Despite threats of a presidential veto, supporters of research on embryonic stem cells say an end to restrictions on federal funding is inevitable after an overwhelming House vote Thursday.
The House of Representatives voted 253-174 on a stem cell research bill identical to one President Bush vetoed last year. Supporters were 37 votes shy of the 290 needed to override a veto but got 14 more votes than last year.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Bush remains opposed to the legislation. "We believe we should not be using tax dollars to provide incentives for the continued destruction of embryos," Fratto said.
In the Senate, Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said he has 66 votes lined up in favor of the bill; he needs 67 to override Bush. "We're working on everybody," Harkin said.
Harkin and other proponents of research with embryonic stem cells — basic building blocks that can be coaxed into developing into a wide range of cells — say the work holds the promise of curing diabetes, Alzheimer's and other diseases.
Opponents such as Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., say it's an unproven field of study that involves the destruction of human life, because embryos are used to obtain the stem cells. "This is not necessary, and it's morally wrong," said Weldon, a doctor. He and others argued that medical breakthroughs can be achieved by using adult stem cells, such as those derived from a pregnant woman's uterus.
At issue is whether to lift restrictions on embryonic stem cell research that Bush established early in his first term. Under an Aug. 9, 2001, order, Bush limited federal funding for research to stem cell lines created before that date. Of the $600 million the National Institutes of Health provides for stem cell research, $39 million went to human embryonic stem cells last year. The rest went for studies on animal and adult stem cells.
"None offer as much promise as human embryonic stem cells," said Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., a microbiologist.
Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., and other bill supporters said the measure would provide a positive use for leftover embryos kept at fertility clinics and destined for destruction. That was the reason Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Mich., switched his vote this year to support the bill. "He felt that since the embryos were going to be destroyed anyway, it was better that some good come out of it," said Christopher Mansour, Kildee's chief of staff. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, said federal funding for the research would amount to a financial endorsement for "a policy that innocent life can be destroyed for utilitarian purposes."
Some lawmakers cited friends and family members they said might be aided by embryonic stem cell research. Freshman Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill., said the research could help his predecessor, Lane Evans, an Illinois Democrat who retired last year because of Parkinson's disease. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa., told members about his 5-year-old daughter's battle with brain cancer.
In all, 38 freshmen lawmakers voted for the bill. "I'm a pro-life Democrat," said Rep. Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania. "This is a pro-life vote."
DeGette and Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del., the bill's sponsors, said the growing support in the House of Representatives is a sign that political momentum is shifting. "This will be the law of the land in 2009 no matter what," said Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., referring to the year Bush's term ends. "Our job is to get the inevitable to happen as early as possible."
DeGette said she's eager to discuss a compromise with the White House, but she said Bush has rejected offers to meet with her and GOP bill supporters.
Contributing: David Jackson and Dan Vergano
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You know what I really hate? Seeing people suffering from cureable diseases because a handful of their countrymen think that a cluster of cells is more entitled to life than a living, breathing human being. I've got news for you: Every member of Congress that voted against stem cell research just voted to destroy 400,000 embroys (which you call 'babies'), not for research purposes, but just because that's what will happen to the 400,000 embryos now sitting in storage freezers, left over from in vitro fertilization procedures. With the stem cell research you hate so much, those embryos might be put to some use, saving lives. When you vote against stem cell research, your vote not only says that it's ok to kill the millions of people suffering from what may be cureable diseases, you're also voting for an even more wanton, wasteful destruction of embryos than would occur via stem cell research. The bottom line is this: Those embryos are going to be destroyed, and there's nothing you can do about it. Now do you want to do the real pro-life thing and use these embryos to save human life, or do you want to just pitch them in the dumpster and call it moral?
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