WILL NORM COLEMAN CHANGE HIS MIND ON STEM-CELL RESEARCH?

01/12/2007

ST. PAUL (1/12/07) - Yesterday, Minnesota's Democrats in Congress put sound science and the interests of the American people ahead of partisan politics by passing the bipartisan bill to promote life-saving stem-cell research.

After years of Republicans like President Bush and Sen. Norm Coleman playing politics with the issue, the new Democratic Congress voted to increase federal funding for stem-cell research and expand the number of stem cell lines available for federally funded research. In the process, they helped give hope to 100 million Americans affected by debilitating or life-threatening diseases and their families.

“Coleman just flip-flopped on Iraq, after years of loyally carrying the President's water,” Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez said. “Now it looks like he may flip-flop on stem-cell research. Now that he’s been recognized nationally as one of the most vulnerable Republicans of 2008, we can expect him to keep chasing the spotlight. Maybe he thinks no one will notice he switched Parties – again.”

“President Bush has already threatened a veto, but we know that this bill will be introduced in the Senate just a few votes short of being veto-proof. If Senator Coleman comes out for it, he’ll put himself in the national media spotlight for the second time in two weeks. And he’ll get it – again – for taking the popular position when it’s popular to do so.”