Filibuster looms on stem cell issue

Legislation which would relax the Federal ban on stem cell research moved forward this week as the US House of Representatives approved the Castle-DeGette bill, which would authorize medical research on stem cells obtained from embryos stored at fertility clinics. The action now moves to the Senate next week, where the debate is likely to be fierce. Roll Call reports that opponents led by Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) are seriously weighing a filibuster. Supporters are led by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), who was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease.

Some opponents, like freshman Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, a former obstetrician, say they support the idea of the stem cell legislation in principle, but not the means it endorses. "I am going to work to make it what it needs to be and clean up some of the untruths," Coburn said. "You don't need to kill an embryo to get stem cells."

- see this story from Roll Call
- see this story from The New York Times

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