Stem Cell Bill
President Bush is set to exercise his right to veto, as he strongly opposes the bill currently pending in the House of Representatives over embryonic stem cell research. The bill would expand federal funding for stem cell research. Currently, taxpayer money can be used toward research on adult stem cells, those harvested from bone or blood marrow. President Bush supports adult stem cell research. However, the Congressional bill would expand federal funding to include stem cells that are harvested from leftover embryos from the fertility therapy process. The House bill does not include clauses related to human cloning, which is currently being studied by scientists in other countries like South Korea.
The Congressional bill demonstrates the major rifts between the executive and legislative branches of the American government. The president and Congress clash over Bush's Social Security reform as well as his nomination of John Bolton as United Nations ambassador. Ironically, the stem cell bill is receiving widespread support by Republican congressmen and senators. In fact, the Senate in general is more strongly in favor of expanding federal funding for stem cell research. If the current bill passes in the House of Representatives, it will likely not receive the two-thirds majority that would permit an overturning of a Presidential veto. Prominent Republicans, including senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, are strongly in favor of the bill, in direct opposition to the President's position.
Although embryonic stem cells can become any human cell or tissue, permitting cell and tissue regeneration, they are harvested from human embryos. It is a small step in the wrong direction to permit taxpayer monies to be diverted to such controversial research. Permitting an expansion of stem cell research sends the wrong message and creates an ethically ambiguous society. President Bush's assertion that embryonic stem cell research is morally wrong is an admirable stance, especially given the divisiveness the measure is causing within the federal government.
