[jrcskb]

I would imagine most, if not all, of us would invite an expansion of the federal government's current policy with regard to embryonic stem cell research. There is a very important piece of legislation that Senator Frist will bring to the Senate floor most likely in the upcoming week or so for debate. I would urge you all to contact your senators and ask them to support passing S.810 without any amendments (some of the amendments seek to ban SCNT).

This is a link to the text of the bill:
http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=103932

This link will provide you with information on your senators (again, only your Senators should be contacted about this bill):
http://www.capitolconnect.com/jdrf/legis_search.aspx

It is definitely worth the time to look it over and express the need for an expansion of this area of research that holds so much promise for the treatment or cure of diabetes (among many other diseases)! Please take the time.

I thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.

[lgvincent]

I favor government funding of stem cell research but I've found the Republican senators from Alabama to be about as forward thinking as the caveman. They've never voted the way I've asked them to on any issue and I would be stunned if they did this time. I'm willing to bet that they'll do as George says and vote against it, like always.

[jrcskb]

Originally Posted by lgvincent

I favor government funding of stem cell research but I've found the Republican senators from Alabama to be about as forward thinking as the caveman. They've never voted the way I've asked them to on any issue and I would be stunned if they did this time. I'm willing to bet that they'll do as George says and vote against it, like always.

I can empathize with your frustration, although, being from CT, I am used to quite the opposite reaction. I think it may be worth another shot in States where past efforts have failed. Remember, this is an election year for many in Congress! Also, Senator Frist being in support of the expansion may help to turn others who would otherwise not support the measure.

[jrcskb]

I thank all of you who may have already contacted your Senators on this issue. To those who may not, I would once again urge you to do so (and have your family and friends do so also).

The bill may come to a vote this week in the Senate. Further, there is talk that President Bush may veto the bill. Then, to override the veto, additional Senators must vote for the measure (total 67/100 must vote to override as opposed to 51/100 to pass the bill).

That all said, this is an opportunity to be heard. Believe it or not, there are Senators listening to this issue that may have turned there head in the past. It would be a shame for this bill to fail and keep the federal obstacles to this research in place.

Thanks again for the time!

[jrcskb]

Under the agreement to bring the bill to the Senate Floor, 60 votes are needed to pass (not the usual 51/100). Just wanted to clarify.

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by jrcskb

The bill may come to a vote this week in the Senate. Further, there is talk that President Bush may veto the bill. Then, to override the veto, additional Senators must vote for the measure (total 67/100 must vote to override as opposed to 51/100 to pass the bill).

That would be the FIRST time Bush has EVER vetoed a bill. Therefore I find it highly unlikely that he would veto it. If it does pass in Senate and make it into law, then Bush will just put fines on anyone that does what the bill allows (which he has done on other bills he didn't support, he passed them then went against them.) But I highly doubt it will pass the Senate since there's just a bunch of knuckleheads in Senate now.

Offtopic: It's interesting how 4 months ago the White House said we would be in debt 420 billion or something now today they annouce it will only be in the 200 billions.

[duck]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

That would be the FIRST time Bush has EVER vetoed a bill. Therefore I find it highly unlikely that he would veto it. If it does pass in Senate and make it into law, then Bush will just put fines on anyone that does what the bill allows (which he has done on other bills he didn't support, he passed them then went against them.) But I highly doubt it will pass the Senate since there's just a bunch of knuckleheads in Senate now.

Offtopic: It's interesting how 4 months ago the White House said we would be in debt 420 billion or something now today they annouce it will only be in the 200 billions.

It would be a good move politically for the Republicans for Bush to veto this bill...His veto would endear him to the "base", who probably would turn out to vote in droves. Besides, it's obvious he's not planning to veto any spending bills any time soon.

IN the end, it would get a big monkey off the Republican's back.

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by duck

It would be a good move politically for the Republicans for Bush to veto this bill...His veto would endear him to the "base", who probably would turn out to vote in droves. Besides, it's obvious he's not planning to veto any spending bills any time soon.

IN the end, it would get a big monkey off the Republican's back.

I do think they need some desperate passes coming up soon to get people to go republican next election. As it stands right now, no matter who runs for Republican president, they are doomed before they even start campaigning. So a bill like this could help them greatly since it seems like most of the country actually wants one to pass.

[jrcskb]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

I do think they need some desperate passes coming up soon to get people to go republican next election. As it stands right now, no matter who runs for Republican president, they are doomed before they even start campaigning. So a bill like this could help them greatly since it seems like most of the country actually wants one to pass.

Very good point. It may be that instead of just appeasing those in your "base", that certain Legislators may need an issue to go with the majority. Stem Cell has 70% support in polls.

I also agree somewhat with the "knuckleheads" quote above - although I guess many of us (as voters) can take some credit for who is there in the Senate!
Anyway, let's just all work to get the bill passed in the Senate, then worry about a potential veto/override.

On this point, we worked very hard (and for at least 3 sessions of our Legislature) to get the Connecticut Stem Cell Bill passed. Again, here in CT polls showed up to 75% in favor of the research, but it was a unified and loud opposition. Eventually enough people called the Legislators' offices and told them to pass it - and it passed. I have been involved (as I assume many of you all have been) with getting the same type of efforts to expand the federal policy. Hopefully that happens very soon.

[duck]

It's going to pass, an informal vote has already showed the numbers are there for passage. It passed in the House with a similar "pre-flight check". The only debate right now is if the same Senators who choose to vote for it as legislation will choose to vote to over-ride a veto...Those machinations turn into their own animal sometimes.

In the end, the Federal Government funding stem cell research won't make any difference.

[jrcskb]

Originally Posted by duck

In the end, the Federal Government funding stem cell research won't make any difference.

I think that anytime you have more money going into research that the opportunities of finding usable treatments/cures is increased. Plus, a major problem/obstacle to this research has been the lack of availability of stem cells (i.e. fertility clinics disposing of cells that many would donate) and the lack of federal government money (i.e. NIH).

The most important issue with the current [lack of] federal policy is that it is based not on science or a cost-benefit analysis (i.e. it's too expensive and shows no/little hope) but instead on idealogical values of a minority of the population.

[Cyborg]

Until we have true separation of church and state, I doubt we will see much progress...

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

Until we have true separation of church and state, I doubt we will see much progress...

That is 100% true since this whole Gay Marriage Ban is based on it's not what the "church" says is right. Which personally I don't think that should be allowed to hold a bill/law back. But then again, Church and State are not seperate at all since everything is "In God We Trust." So much for the federal government supporting someone's beliefs that don't have a God or don't believe in God. But I do agree that holds many bills back.

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

That is 100% true since this whole Gay Marriage Ban is based on it's not what the "church" says is right. Which personally I don't think that should be allowed to hold a bill/law back. But then again, Church and State are not seperate at all since everything is "In God We Trust." So much for the federal government supporting someone's beliefs that don't have a God or don't believe in God. But I do agree that holds many bills back.

Our government is so hypocritical... To put "In God We Trust" on our money, but not let us put a XMas tree on pulic is pathetic.

[duck]

Welcome to democracy. You'll find that other democracies fight over even more trivial issues than we do.