Aggregated News
California may now be a haven for stem-cell research, but the federal government is still debating the legality of some aspects of the science.
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) and Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Florida) have drafted bills that would outlaw therapeutic cloning -- a technique scientists believe could be key to turning stem-cell research into cures and treatments, but which also comes with ethical concerns.
Weldon's bill has cleared the House, but Brownback's Senate version has languished since 2001.
With an infusion of Republicans in the Senate, the bill may be closer to passing. Most of the six new Republican senators will likely vote in favor of the bill. However, Sen.-elect Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) has spoken out in favor of embryonic stem-cell research. And the bill has also received surprising opposition from Republicans, including Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania). Such departures will likely leave the bill short of a majority, let alone the 60 votes the bill would need to avoid filibuster.
"The question is whether the Democrats and stem-cell supporters among Republicans can still hang tough,"...
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) and Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Florida) have drafted bills that would outlaw therapeutic cloning -- a technique scientists believe could be key to turning stem-cell research into cures and treatments, but which also comes with ethical concerns.
Weldon's bill has cleared the House, but Brownback's Senate version has languished since 2001.
With an infusion of Republicans in the Senate, the bill may be closer to passing. Most of the six new Republican senators will likely vote in favor of the bill. However, Sen.-elect Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) has spoken out in favor of embryonic stem-cell research. And the bill has also received surprising opposition from Republicans, including Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania). Such departures will likely leave the bill short of a majority, let alone the 60 votes the bill would need to avoid filibuster.
"The question is whether the Democrats and stem-cell supporters among Republicans can still hang tough,"...