From Deseret News archives:
Frist flips stance on stem cells
Besides gaining another vote for the bill, Frist gives Hatch and a handful of other pro-stem-cell-research GOP senators some political cover on the controversial issue.
There are political risks in the stands by Frist and Hatch both of whom consider themselves pro-life conservatives.
Frist, R-Tenn., is an unannounced presidential candidate in 2008. And while his "modified" stand on federal funding for stem-cell research may harm his chances of getting conservatives to support his bid, it may just be the extra push needed to get a veto-proof majority vote in the Senate.
And just a week ago, state Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, announced that he is challenging Hatch within the Republican Party in 2006. A number of issues differentiate the men, said Urquhart, one being stem cell research.
For his part, the president has threatened to veto the House's Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. The act would expand federal funding for such research, keeping the use of stem cells to otherwise discarded embryonic cells in fertility banks.
Hatch said, "Today is a good day for biomedical research. Today is a good day for the American public.
"This is a significant and most-welcome breakthrough," he said, "and I am encouraged that with the majority leader's support we can expect swift action in the Senate and overwhelming bipartisan passage for legislation to expand ethical embryonic stem cell research."
The Associated Press reported that Frist has been working for months to build a consensus on how to bring the act up for debate and passage in the Senate.
That debate will likely come after the August congressional vacation.
Frist said, "I strongly support newer, alternative means of deriving, creating and isolating . . . stem cells, whether they are true embryonic stem cells or stem cells that have all of the unique properties of embryonic stem cells. . . . It's time for a modified policy."
In an eight-page statement, Frist, a medical doctor and heart transplant surgeon before coming to the Senate, said that Bush's original stem cell plan may have been adequate when adopted in 2001.
Comments
- 5A high school football All-State 12:25 a.m.
- Woods soap opera takes more turns 12:24 a.m.
- Defense lifts Jets to win over Buffalo 12:23 a.m.
- Ex-USU, NFL great to be honored 12:23 a.m.
- Jazz: Miles, Kirilenko to play Friday 12:14 a.m.
- Friday on TV 12:11 a.m.
- S.L. candidates report fundraising 12:07 a.m.
- E-signatures considered for petitions 12:06 a.m.
- Curtis spent $20K on Layton race 12:06 a.m.
- Therapeutic hypothermia a lifesaver 12:06 a.m.
- Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- Aggies shoot past Cougars
- Mitchell said to share LeBaron traits
- Phoenix signs off on LDS temple
- BYU prof a 'Top Global Thinker'
- Toddler dies trapped under mattress
- Aggie 'D' holds BYU to season low
- Miles is back, but others still out
- Doctor deems Mitchell competent
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
483 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
406 - Max Hall issues apology
393 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
361 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
287 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
216 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
188 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
175
If you want to learn what it's like to be an astronaut on the...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
The more people there are helping the less supervised the children present...
Thanks for the passion and intensity you brought to the court day-in and...
Sloan, comeon, we're talking about the same guy that gave jarron collins...
Those Jazz teams in the early eighties must have had a horrible record in...
I love this story! I was terrified as snakes as a child. Mainly, because I...
I have to admit. I am glad it died. The article makes light of the fact that...
are guilty of hate themselves.
I still have my green Jazz jacket that I will wear to the game when the Jazz...
just wait a day
@cl, I'm with you, it would be nice to see feztheb and miles play up to...





You can be the first to comment on this story.