Bush vetoes bill intended to remove restrictions on federal funding of stem cell research

Bush's veto of the bill known as H.B. 810, or the stem cell enhancement bill, is the first veto cast by the President of bills delivered to him from Congress. The New York Times online reported the veto about an hour ago.

Bush, "surrounded by scores of children born as a result of an embryo-adoption program and their parents", made the following statement:

This bill would support the taking of innocent human life. Each of these human embryos is a unique human life with inherent dignity and matchless value. These boys and girls are not spare parts.

In an interesting note, the Times reported:

. . . one element was missing [from the White House ceremony]: a flourish of the pen that Mr. Bush typically uses to sign a measure that he likes. The president had already signed his name on the veto before appearing in public. The actual signing was not photographed because, Mr. Snow said beforehand, Mr. Bush did not think it would be appropriate.

No official statement was made on whether an override vote would be taken.

Marie Godfrey, PhD