Chicago Sun-Times Editorial - Stem cell research bill should be enacted into law

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial - Stem cell research bill should be enacted into law
Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times
June 7, 2007

It has been a long and difficult journey, and there's a good chance more obstacles will have to be overcome before the desired outcome is reality. But a bill to ease restrictions on federally funded embryonic stem cell research likely will come out of Congress today. Two months after the Senate voted to pass the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, the House is poised to do the same.

The bill will allow for research using stem cells derived from human embryos that were donated by patients who had them created for fertility treatments. Current policy allows federal money only for research using embryonic stem cells created on or before Aug. 9, 2001.

President Bush, who last year vetoed legislation to allow funding of additional lines of embryonic stem cells, has threatened to veto this legislation as well. At last estimate, supporters of the bill still did not have enough votes to overcome a veto. But considering the overwhelming popular support for this research, which could yield treatments and possible cures for juvenile diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other diseases, there's always hope that could change. This issue could have a significant impact on next year's elections. Republicans looking to regain some of their lost support won't want to risk alienating voters on this life-and-death matter and should urge Bush not to wield his veto pen.