Sen. leader breaks with Bush on stem cells: report
By JoAnne Allen
Reuters
Friday, July 29, 2005; 7:44 AM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a rare break with President Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist will throw his support behind a bill to expand research on stem cells derived from human embryos, The New York Times reported on Friday.
Frist, a surgeon and close Bush ally, was expected to deliver a Senate speech on Friday announcing his decision to back a stem-cell research bill that was passed by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, the newspaper reported.
Bush has vowed to veto the measure, which aims to greatly increase the number of embryonic stem cells available for federally funded research. But congressional aides said Frist's support could give a huge boost to the already popular bill and give them leverage in negotiations with the White House to avert a veto.
Aides to the Tennessee Republican said they would have no comment before his speech at 9 a.m..
According to the New York Times, Frist will say that while he has reservations over altering Bush's 2001 policy of strictly limiting taxpayer-financed embryonic stem-cell research, he supports the bill the House passed in May.
Embryonic stem cells can be transformed into many other types of cells. They offer the potential for regenerating damaged organs or tissues, with the possibility of treating diseases such as Parkinson's or juvenile diabetes.
"Cure today may be just a theory, a hope, a dream," Frist said in a copy of the speech quoted by the Times. "But the promise is powerful enough that I believe this research deserves our increased energy and focus. Embryonic stem cell research must be supported."
Frist, a potential 2008 presidential contender, outlined in a 2001 speech his belief in the value of embryonic stem-cell research within certain ethical boundaries. The goals he set in that speech closely match the embryonic stem-cell bill.
Bush in his veto threat cited moral concerns over the destruction of embryos in obtaining the stem cells. However, Frist said in the speech text that he could reconcile his support for the research with his Christian faith and views that life begins at conception, the Times said.
The House-passed legislation would allow federal funding of research using the 400,000 frozen embryos leftover from in-vitro fertilization treatments. Most of those embryos would otherwise be destroyed. The legislation's supporters say it would be more ethical to use the leftover embryos to try to cure disease.
Opponents have advocated finding ways to obtain stem cells without destroying an embryo.
Bush in August 2001 said he would allow federal funding only on embryonic stem cells from existing lines, but critics said there were not enough lines.
(Additional reporting by Joanne Kenen) |
