Bush Finally Uses the Veto

I have an auto-immune disorder. I have had it since I was 4 years old. My mom died of an auto-immune disorder in the same family when i was 22 and she was 41. My nephew and my youngest daughter both too suffer from auto-immune disorders. My daughters one of the exact diseases I have. I suffer from 3 auto-immune problems. Hastimodo's Disease is a thyroid condition. I have a type of Rheamatoid arthritis where my body attack's itself as foriegn. I had childhood onset, diagnosed at 4. And i have a type of anemia very commen in people who have auto-immune disorders. Iron does not "fix" it. it happens bc of an imbalance between the white and red cells. My mom had lupus. I also am a carrier for the anti-phosolipid antibody. It can clause blood clots.

I am glad Bush finally is using the veto. We must never make human life so small...that human beings can be used as lab rats.

Thank you President Bush for doing what is moral, above people's selfish wants.

Bush Vetoes Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bill
Wednesday, July 19, 2006

WASHINGTON — President Bush vetoed the first bill of his five-and-a-half year administration Wednesday by rejecting a measure that would provide more federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research.

"In this new era, our challenge is to harness the power of science to ease human suffering without sanctioning the practices that violate the dignity of human life," Bush said in the East Room of the White House after vetoing the measure.

Bush announced his veto standing before 18 families with "snowflake babies," children born after frozen embryos that were not used were adopted by other couples.

"Each of these children was still adopted while still an embryo and has been blessed with a chance to grow, to grow up in a loving family. These boys and girls are not spare parts," Bush said after several interruptions of applause from supporters. "They remind us of what is lost when embryos are destroyed in the name of research."

Bush's first veto follows the Senate passage of the legislation on Tuesday with a 63-37 vote. That vote is four votes short of the two-thirds margin needed to override the veto.

In August 2001, Bush permitted existing federal research to continue, but has advocated against further government funding for that specific type of lab work. He and others argue that stem cells that come from human embryos — unlike stem cells derived from adults — can only be harvested through the loss of a human life.

Opponents of Bush's veto quickly responded to his decision.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., a surgeon who pushed for expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, immediately issued a statement opposing the president’s decision to veto the measure.

"I am pro-life, but I disagree with the president's decision to veto the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. Given the potential of this research and the limitations of the existing lines eligible for federally funded research, I think additional lines should be made available,” Frist said.

Stem cells are considered by a number of scientists to be a possible key to unlocking the secrets of, and developing cures for, many difficult diseases and medical problems such as Alzheimer's, paralysis and other brain-function disorders.

Many scientists say the embryonic stem cells hold more hope than their adult-derived counterparts because they are the cells that multiply into the many types of cells that build the human body. Adult stem cells do not act the same way.

"Those lives will not begin, but many other lives will end if we do not use all the scientific resources available," said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., referring to the multitude of discarded embryos sitting in fertility clinics that could be plied for the favored embryonic stem cells.

Several high-ranking and conservative celebrities — including former first lady Nancy Reagan — have said they believe the science could eventually save millions of lives.

While both the GOP-run House and Senate defied Bush in passing the measure to expand federally funded embryonic stem research, supporters do not appear to have the two-thirds vote margin needed to override such a veto.

However, lawmakers planned to try override it as soon as Bush issues the veto.

"I expect that the House will sustain the president's veto," said House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

The Senate vote Wednesday was preceded by two days of debate, which also involved a number of personal stories to highlight the possible impacts of the research.

Majorities in the House and Senate voted in line with what polling shows is the thoughts of the public. A May Gallup poll showed that 61 percent of respondents found research of human embryo stem cells morally acceptable. The same poll, however, showed that only 43 percent believed abortion was morally acceptable.

Proponents said the bill lifting that restriction also puts strong ethical guidelines in place, requiring donors to give their informed consent for using embryos that would otherwise be discarded.

"The unfortunate part is, if the president does veto the bill, then it sets us back a year or so until we can finally pass a bill that will have the requisite supermajority to be able to become law," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. "And that sets back embryonic stem cell research another year or so."

The Senate voted 63-37 on Tuesday, four votes short of the two-thirds majority that would be needed to override a veto. The House last year fell 50 votes short of a veto-proof margin when it passed the same bill in May 2005, 238-194.

Bush has made 141 veto threats during his time in office, and the Republicans controlling Congress typically respond by changing bills to his liking.

Bush's stand against stem cells is popular among conservative Republicans that the party will rely on in the congressional elections this fall. Those opponents are the same voters who have felt alienated by Bush's actions to increase legal immigration, and the veto could bring them back into the fold.

"The president believes strongly that for the purpose of research, it's inappropriate for the federal government to finance something that many people consider murder. He's one of them," said White House spokesman Tony Snow.

One conservative group, Focus on the Family Action, in Colorado Springs, Colo., praised Bush's "uncommon character and courage in his defense of preborn," while blasting senators who voted against Bush. "Some members of the Senate who should know better voted to destroy human lives — and that goes beyond cowardice."

Although many in the religious right are passionately opposed to stem cell research, most Americans support it, and Bush risks alienating that majority in the critical midterm year.

Democrats said two other bills under debate Tuesday were designed to appease voters angry that the GOP-led government had not opened more doors to research.

"Their opposition to stem cell research is outside the American mainstream, so they want to give themselves political cover by voting for two meaningless bills," said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "It's a playbook straight from the Republican Orwellian world of politics."

One bill, which passed the Senate but failed in the House, would encourage stem cell research using cells from sources other than embryos in an effort to cure diseases and treat injuries. The other, passed unanimously in the House and Senate, would ban "fetal farming," the growing and aborting of fetuses for research.