Friday, December 16, 2005
finals are over. hurrah.
I never have to go to *that class* again.
My heart swells with happiness.
However, here is something that came across the wires today which does not make my heart swell. It makes my brain swell, trying to imagine how some people can be so stupid, heartless, and just plain wrong.
And here it is.
Umbilical Stem Cell Legislation Arrives as Surprise, Goes Down to Harkin's Objection
By Kate Schuler, CQ Staff
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist angered Democrats Thursday by attempting to bring an umbilical-cord stem cell bill to a vote.
Frist, R-Tenn., took members by surprise when he tried to get a unanimous consent agreement to consider legislation (HR 2520) that would encourage the collection of stem cells from the placentas of newborns, for use in treatment and research.
Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin objected, demanding that it be considered only in tandem with a more divisive embryonic stem cell measure (HR 810). That bill would expand federal funding for research on stem cells taken from surplus embryos at in vitro fertilization clinics, a process that some conservatives liken to abortion because embryos are destroyed.
The House passed the cord blood bill, 431-1, in May. It has broad backing in the Senate, but that support belies the furor Frist's move aroused in Democrats.
Supporters of the embryonic stem cell bill have accused House and Senate leaders of trying to muddy the issue by offering an umbilical cord bill as an alternative to the embryonic stem cell measure.
Spokeswoman Allison Dobson said Harkin objected to bringing up the cord blood bill because he did not want "to give them an excuse to say they did stem cell legislation when then haven't."
"I want to make it very clear that I support the cord blood bill," Harkin said on the floor. "But I've said we should consider cord blood at the same time as HR 810."
Well, of course. I mean, when you've got something that works, why not go for something else that doesn't, and kills people too?! Gee, that's brilliant.
Harkin then asked Frist for a date certain to debate the embryonic stem cell bill next year. Frist said that was impossible to predict with the vagaries of the schedule.
The stem cell issue is personal for several senators. Frist's first remarks on the floor drew some of the Senate's major players out of their offices to join the debate. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., one of the chamber's most vocal social conservatives and possible 2008 presidential candidate, arrived with poster-sized photos of children who had been saved by a cord blood procedure.
After Harkin blocked the bill, Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, put his hand on Harkin's shoulder, apparently trying to persuade him to drop his objection.
Hatch, who opposes abortion rights but nevertheless supports embryonic stem cell research, has worked closely with Harkin to move both measures forward and expressed disappointment. "I think we should take the majority leader's word that he'll bring [the embryonic bill] up," Hatch said, noting that Frist said in a July floor speech that he would vote for such a bill.
Well now there's another brilliant statement. That train of thought must look something like this: "I oppose abortions because they kill unborn babies. But I approve of embryonic stem cell research because it kills unborn babies."
Goooood one.
The cord blood measure would authorize $79 million to collect and store stem cells from umbilical cord blood. It also would establish a database to help physicians and researchers access the cells and bone marrow for use in treatment and research.
Disgusting. Let's use our nations financial resources to kill unborn children, rather than spend the money on something that might not only let the unborn children live, but save other lives too!
Sick sick sick.
This is one of those times I'm proud I'm not from Iowa, but fom Illinois, until I find out they're just as bad.
Tennessee, here I come.
I never have to go to *that class* again.
My heart swells with happiness.
However, here is something that came across the wires today which does not make my heart swell. It makes my brain swell, trying to imagine how some people can be so stupid, heartless, and just plain wrong.
And here it is.
Umbilical Stem Cell Legislation Arrives as Surprise, Goes Down to Harkin's Objection
By Kate Schuler, CQ Staff
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist angered Democrats Thursday by attempting to bring an umbilical-cord stem cell bill to a vote.
Frist, R-Tenn., took members by surprise when he tried to get a unanimous consent agreement to consider legislation (HR 2520) that would encourage the collection of stem cells from the placentas of newborns, for use in treatment and research.
Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin objected, demanding that it be considered only in tandem with a more divisive embryonic stem cell measure (HR 810). That bill would expand federal funding for research on stem cells taken from surplus embryos at in vitro fertilization clinics, a process that some conservatives liken to abortion because embryos are destroyed.
The House passed the cord blood bill, 431-1, in May. It has broad backing in the Senate, but that support belies the furor Frist's move aroused in Democrats.
Supporters of the embryonic stem cell bill have accused House and Senate leaders of trying to muddy the issue by offering an umbilical cord bill as an alternative to the embryonic stem cell measure.
Spokeswoman Allison Dobson said Harkin objected to bringing up the cord blood bill because he did not want "to give them an excuse to say they did stem cell legislation when then haven't."
"I want to make it very clear that I support the cord blood bill," Harkin said on the floor. "But I've said we should consider cord blood at the same time as HR 810."
Well, of course. I mean, when you've got something that works, why not go for something else that doesn't, and kills people too?! Gee, that's brilliant.
Harkin then asked Frist for a date certain to debate the embryonic stem cell bill next year. Frist said that was impossible to predict with the vagaries of the schedule.
The stem cell issue is personal for several senators. Frist's first remarks on the floor drew some of the Senate's major players out of their offices to join the debate. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., one of the chamber's most vocal social conservatives and possible 2008 presidential candidate, arrived with poster-sized photos of children who had been saved by a cord blood procedure.
After Harkin blocked the bill, Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, put his hand on Harkin's shoulder, apparently trying to persuade him to drop his objection.
Hatch, who opposes abortion rights but nevertheless supports embryonic stem cell research, has worked closely with Harkin to move both measures forward and expressed disappointment. "I think we should take the majority leader's word that he'll bring [the embryonic bill] up," Hatch said, noting that Frist said in a July floor speech that he would vote for such a bill.
Well now there's another brilliant statement. That train of thought must look something like this: "I oppose abortions because they kill unborn babies. But I approve of embryonic stem cell research because it kills unborn babies."
Goooood one.
The cord blood measure would authorize $79 million to collect and store stem cells from umbilical cord blood. It also would establish a database to help physicians and researchers access the cells and bone marrow for use in treatment and research.
Disgusting. Let's use our nations financial resources to kill unborn children, rather than spend the money on something that might not only let the unborn children live, but save other lives too!
Sick sick sick.
This is one of those times I'm proud I'm not from Iowa, but fom Illinois, until I find out they're just as bad.
Tennessee, here I come.
