Lawmakers are divided on stem cells

Utah's congressional delegation is divided over President-elect Barack Obama's apparent plan to reverse a Bush administration ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research — but the reaction of Utah researchers and organizations dedicated to cures for specific illnesses seems to be a resounding "hurrah!"

"We're all excited," said Larry Soler, vice president of government relations for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, speaking for the national and local organization. "It has been a long time coming."

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has long been a lone conservative in the Senate calling for such a reversal, which upset conservatives who argue that it requires killing existing embryos. Hatch said prayerful consideration led him to believe that the days-old embryos destroyed were not yet living humans.

"Being pro-life means helping the living," Hatch said. "Ethical stem cell research holds tremendous promise in treating diseases such as diabetes, autism, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, among many others. I believe lifting the ban on federally funded embryonic stem cell research is the right thing to do."

John Podesta, co-chairman of Obama's transition team, said Sunday that Obama plans to do exactly that.

"I am a strong advocate of this research, provided it is done with strict ethical guidelines," Hatch said. "It is vital research that enjoys widespread support from experts across a wide spectrum of disciplines, including 2007 Nobel laureate Dr. Mario Capecchi of the University of Utah. Scientists in Utah and across the nation should have federal dollars to conduct this vitally important research."

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, supports lifting the ban. His press secretary, Alyson Heyrend, noted he voted several times to lift the ban, but President Bush vetoed the bills.

Rep. Rob Bishop and Representative-elect Jason Chaffetz, both R-Utah, oppose lifting the ban.

"I worry it (embryonic stem cell research) crosses an ethical line for far too many people. We should not be funding that controversial research with federal taxpayer dollars," Chaffetz said.

Bishop said, "The question is not whether research should take place. It's legal right now to do it. The question is: Should taxpayer money be used to back this questionable research, which requires the destruction of existing human embryos and crosses some real moral lines?

"Not forcing taxpayers to subsidize this problematic research has been the right approach and shouldn't be reversed," he said.

Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, was traveling out of the country and was unavailable for comment.