All 3 stem cell bills pass Senate

Just a few minutes ago, the last (H.B. 810)--and most controversial--of the three stem cells debated in the Senate passed 63 to 37. According to the summary shown on the C-SPAN2 screen, this bill "broadens spending for embryonic stem cell research". Actually, what it does is remove the limitations now in force; no additional money is allocated in the bill. Since the House had already passed this bill (14 months ago), the bill now goes to President Bush. If he vetoes it, as he has declared, the 63 votes would not be enough to override the veto; 67 votes are needed.

The other two bills relating to stem cell research (no fetal farming and investigate alternative ways of making embryonic stem cell lines), as expected, passed-- unanimously. These will now go to the House, where they are also expected to easily pass. President Bush will likely sign these two bills.

One question arose in my mind as I was watching the voting: if so many spoke in favor of retaining the limits on federal spending for embryonic stem cell research why did so few (zero) vote against the bill that directs NIH to investigate alternative ways of creating embryonic stem cell lines? Wouldn't this money also be "taken away" from adult stem cell research"?

Anyway, the drama is over in the Senate. Let's see what President Bush does.

Marie Godfrey, PhD