7.17.2006

The senators are debating stem cell research. The big bill is HR 810. Harkin (IA) and Specter (PA) co-sponsor this bill and Majority Leader Frist (TN) also backs more stem cell research. This bill would open up more "lines" to research, and would relax prohibitions on research involving embryonic stem cells.

13:02 est

Frist, Specter, and now Harkin have spoken. Harkin is saying that the medical community supports expanding stem cell research. The debate is what we will use federal funds (taxpayer money) to do. Harkin has a big sign saying "Stem Cell Research Should Be Expanded." He is stating that even the lines that are open to research are "contaminated by mouse cells" and afflicted with other problems, too. So, more lines.

The House has already approved this initiative. However, President Bush said he would veto any bill expanding research to embryonic stem cells. He opposes the notion of "killing life to save life."

13:27

Sen. Coburn (OK) is speaking against embryonic stem cell research. He says put aside the ethical problems, there are scientific problems with embryonic stem cell lines. Coburn is a doctor and is speaking scientifically. He says stem cell lines can yield positive results without destroying stem cells. Germ cell lines and adult stem cell lines.

The Alternatives bill is S2754. It limits NIH to research stem cells not derived from embryos.

Now, Sen. Brownback (KS) enters the debate. He opposes using embryonic stem cells. Compares destruction of bald eagle's egg and destruction of human embryos ("young human life") Says, you could be fined up to $500k for destrowing a bald eagle's egg. If you destroy the egg, you don't get the eagle. He has big boards with pictures of them. First the eagle and its egg. Now fertilized human eggs. These eggs lead to Mother Teresa, JFK, MLK, and Ronald Reagan. Picture of egg pointing to head shot of person. If you destroy the embryo, you don't get the person. We're not talking theology, we're talkin basic biology. He is looking right at the camera. Not all senators will do this. Most don't. Most look at the president pro tem, or whoever is sitting in the president pro tem's seat. He is saying we should put the money instead into adult stem cell research.

16:36 est

Sen. Coburn (OK) makes a couple of important points. First, it's not true that you can't do embryonic stem cell research. He says, There is no prohibition against doing embryonic stem cell research. Rather, the debate concerns whether the federal government should FUND embryonic stem cell research. Sen. Coburn notes that the federal government does in fact spend money to fund embryonic stem cell research, in the amount of $40m last year. The thing is: out of 400 embryonic stem cell lines, the federal gov't is limited to funding only 21 of these lines. He says, embryo destruction occurs in the private sector. He's also saying, it is possible to take adult stem cells and "move them backwards" with an enzyme called "reversase" in order to make them similar to embryonic stem cells, also called pleuripotent stem cells. Meaning, they can develop into a wide array of cell types (and are therefore more versatile, more useful).

Coburn probably is the best Senator on the science of it.

16:42 est

Robert Byrd is on the floor! Mr. President, Mr. President...he wants to speak for five minutes on another matter, if there is no objection, Sen. Dorgan reserves the right to object, he doesn't object provided that after Sen. Byrd, he be recognized for his ten minutes. Sen Harkin says we are on strict time limits...someone's gonna lose time. It sounded like Kennedy just gave up some time. My true friend from MA, says Byrd, Sen. Kennedy. Byrd is talking about it being the 219th anniversary of the constitutional convention. He holds the microphone with his left hand and his hand shakes as he holds the microphone to his breast. He doesn't sound real good. He is looking down at his notes. He is recounting the convention....