Will Coleman Vote Against Stem-Cell Research Again?

06/08/2007

With President Bush Expected to Veto Legislation, Coleman is Deciding Vote on Stem-Cells Veto Override


(ST. PAUL) 6/7/07 – After the U.S. House of Representatives today voted to expand federal funding for stem-cell research (S. 5), Minnesota State DFL Chair Brian Melendez again called on Senator Coleman to put the people of Minnesota ahead of Washington politics and support additional funding for potentially life-saving research.

The legislation, which would reverse President Bush’s 2001 directive to limit federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research and supports all ethical forms of that research without prejudging the effectiveness of research methods, now heads to the President’s desk, where he has promised to use his veto pen.

Having already voted against the measure twice in the last year, Senator Norm Coleman is a deciding factor in overriding the President’s veto.

“Expanding federal funding for stem-cell research could mean life-saving breakthroughs,” said Brian Melendez, State Chair of the Minnesota DFL Party. “This goes beyond politics. By refusing to support additional federal funding for research that could make a difference in people’s lives, Senator Coleman is once again putting President Bush ahead of the people of Minnesota.”

Coleman Deciding Factor in Expanding Stem Cell Research:

Bush Vowed to Veto Latest Stem-Cell Bill. President Bush has already vowed to veto the latest stem-cell legislation. Last year, he used his veto pen for the first time in his presidency to veto a similar stem-cell package. [AP, 6/7/07; CQ Today, 6/6/07]

Coleman’s Vote on Override Critical. The vote for final passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 was 63-34 with three Senators not voting. Since all three Senators who missed the vote expressed their support for the measure or for a similar one in 2006, Coleman’s decision on the vote is critical. [AP, 5/24/07; Vote 127, 4/11/07; The Advocate, 4/16/07; Argus Leader, 5/28/07; Connecticut Post Online, 7/17/06]

Coleman Already Voted Against Stem-Cell Bill Twice in Less Than a Year. Earlier this year, Coleman voted against the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007. The bill would have reversed Bush’s 2001 directive limiting federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research. It was nearly identical to a bill Coleman opposed less than a year ago. [AP, 4/5/07; Vote 127, 4/11/07; Vote 206, 7/18/06; AP, 7/19/06]

Coleman Advocated “Phony Alternative” Research. “The alternative measure, the Hope Act, would back efforts to isolate embryonic stem cells from ‘naturally dead embryos’ that succumbed after being created in fertility clinics…many scientists call it a phony alternative, in part because there is no agreed-upon definition of embryo death.” [Washington Post, 4/11/07]

Star Tribune Said Coleman “Failed His Constituents” On Stem-Cell Policy. In July 2006, the Star Tribune published an editorial that attacked Coleman for his vote against expanding federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. The editorial said, “Coleman failed his constituents by voting against the legislation.” The editorial continued, defending the bill to expand research, “Rejecting this legislation on the grounds that it involves the destruction of human embryos makes no sense whatsoever. The bill was carefully crafted to allow use of only surplus embryos from in vitro fertilization programs that are going to be destroyed anyway.” [Star Tribune, 7/20/06]

Star Tribune Said Coleman and Bush are Clinging to a “Clearly Flawed Position.” An editorial by the Star Tribune wrote, “Too bad Bush and Coleman remain in the shrinking minority that holds fast to its clearly flawed opposition.” [Star Tribune, 7/20/06]