Bush uses his first veto ever on stem cell bill
{{date|July 19, 2006}}

U.S. President [[w:George W. Bush|George W. Bush]] has used the first [[w:veto|veto]] of his presidency on a bill for federal funding of scientific research which uses [[w:Embryonic stem cell|embryonic stem cells]]. The bill aimed to increase the number of stem cells lines in federally funded science. Despite the veto, the destruction of embryos to extract stem cells will still take place in scientific research; the research will simply not be funded by the federal government. It is illegal in the [[w:United States|United States]] to create (through conception) embryos for the purpose of scientific research.

The bill had passed in the Senate 63-37, four votes short of a 2/3 majority needed to override the President's veto. The bill will go back to the House and Senate.

Bush had previously announced that he would veto this bill.

Bush described it as a step that would cross a "moral line". "This bill would support the taking of innocent human life," Mr. Bush said at the [[w:White House|White House]] while surrounded by parents and children that were born as part of an embryo-adoption programme. "Each of these human embryos is a unique human life with inherent dignity and matchless value. These boys and girls are not spare parts."

[[w:Nancy Pelosi|Nancy Pelosi]], House minority leader, said "the veto amounted to saying 'no' to hope. It is up to members of Congress to represent their constituents and vote to override the veto." 

Many high-profile organizations &mdash; such as the [[w:Christopher Reeve Foundation|Christopher Reeve Foundation]] and the [[w:Michael J. Fox|Michael J. Fox]] Foundation for [[w:Parkinson's disease|Parkinson's]] Research &mdash; were actively advocating the passage of the bill.

*'''Update:''' {{date|July 20, 2006}}

The [[w:U.S. House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] failed to override Bush's veto. The final vote was 235-193, which was 51 short of the 2/3 majority needed for a veto override.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://us.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/07/19/stemcells.veto/index.html|title=Bush vetoes embryonic stem-cell bill|author=|pub=CNN|date=July 19, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/19/washington/19cnd-stem.html?hp&ex=1153368000&en=c59f214cb1301b12&ei=5094&partner=homepage|title=In First Veto, Bush Blocks Stem Cell Bill|author=David Stout|pub=The New York Times|date=July 19, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060719/ap_on_go_pr_wh/stem_cells_58
|title=House fails to override stem cell veto
|author=Nedra Pickler
|pub=Associated Press
|date=July 19, 2006}}

[[category:Crime and law]]
[[category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Nancy Pelosi]]

{{Publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}
[[Category:George W. Bush]]
[[Category:Health]]

[[de:Bush stoppt neues Gesetz zur Stammzellenforschung durch sein Veto]]
[[pt:Bush veta lei sobre uso de células-tronco embrionárias]]
U.S. President George W. Bush has used the first veto of his presidency on a bill for federal funding of scientific research which uses embryonic stem cells. The bill aimed to increase the number of stem cells lines in federally funded science. Despite the veto, the destruction of embryos to extract stem cells will still take place in scientific research; the research will simply not be funded by the federal government. It is illegal in the United States to create (through conception) embryos for the purpose of scientific research.

The bill had passed in the Senate 63-37, four votes short of a 2/3 majority needed to override the President's veto. The bill will go back to the House and Senate.

Bush had previously announced that he would veto this bill.

Bush described it as a step that would cross a "moral line". "This bill would support the taking of innocent human life," Mr. Bush said at the White House while surrounded by parents and children that were born as part of an embryo-adoption programme. "Each of these human embryos is a unique human life with inherent dignity and matchless value. These boys and girls are not spare parts."

Nancy Pelosi, House minority leader, said "the veto amounted to saying 'no' to hope. It is up to members of Congress to represent their constituents and vote to override the veto." 

Many high-profile organizations — such as the Christopher Reeve Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research — were actively advocating the passage of the bill.

*'Update:' 

The U.S. House of Representatives failed to override Bush's veto. The final vote was 235-193, which was 51 short of the 2/3 majority needed for a veto override.


category:Crime and law
category:Politics and conflicts


de:Bush stoppt neues Gesetz zur Stammzellenforschung durch sein Veto
Bush veta lei sobre uso de células-tronco embrionárias
Science and technology United States North America Nancy Pelosi George W. Bush Health