Washington Editor

WASHINGTON - As expected, President Bush vetoed Wednesday legislation to expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, although supporters are looking forward to continuing the fight.

Noting that the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act "fails to meet" ethical and moral guidelines, Bush explained his logic behind the first veto of his presidency. "We can harness the promise of technology without becoming slaves to technology, and we can ensure that science serves the cause of humanity instead of the other way around."

The bill first passed the House of Representatives last spring by a 238-194 vote before Tuesday's 63-37 margin in the Senate. The measure, also known as H.R. 810 and S. 471, would have allowed federal money for research on excess embryos produced at in vitro fertilization clinics, and its backers don't plan to disappear.

"We will continue to do whatever we can to advance embryonic stem cell research in America," said Sean Tipton, the president of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research. Expressing disappointment on the veto, he charged that the president "ignored the will of the people and the best scientific expertise and advice in favor of the wishful thinking of his political advisers."

For now, though, funding from the National Institutes of Health remains restricted to embryonic stem cell lines created before Aug. 9, 2001 - the day Bush unveiled the policy. It is illegal for any federally funded labs or their equipment to be used for research on newer lines, and Michael Werner, the president of the Werner Group, a Washington-based life sciences consulting firm, does not expect any change in those restrictions during the administration's remaining two and a half years in office.

Nevertheless, he noted that all forms of stem cell research would march forward with private, state and limited federal backing. "All those efforts are terrific," he told BioWorld Today, "but are no substitute for full-fledged support from the federal government."

The challenge underlying the issue, the president said, "is to harness the power of science to ease human suffering without sanctioning the practices that violate the dignity of human life." Surrounded by "snowflake babies," children born from excess in vitro fertilization embryos, Bush called them reminders "of what is lost when embryos are destroyed in the name of research."

Echoing those thoughts was White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, who noted that the president "doesn't want human life destroyed." He added that "it's inappropriate for the federal government to finance something that many people consider murder."

The House was expected to sustain the veto, as there are not enough votes for an override. That was cheered by groups, such as the Religious Coalition Against Embryonic Stem Cell Research, which have tied the method to abortion, as well as many conservative members of Congress.

Bush's rejection of the bill, however, was decried by a bipartisan bloc of lawmakers on Capitol Hill, led by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). "Given the potential of this research and the limitations of the existing lines eligible for federally funded research," he said, "I think additional lines should be made available."

Other critics included a range of professional scientific and medical organizations, researchers and patient advocacy groups. That "groundswell of support," Werner said, indicates that the embryonic stem cell issue is likely to remain in the public consciousness in the coming months leading up to November's mid-term elections.

Its wide popularity in the Senate proved "a big win," he added, and represents the growing appeal of embryonic stem cell research with the public. "It's good for the future of the field," Werner added, "and it's good for biomedical research in general."

In a twist to the proceedings of the last few days, an alternate stem cell-related bill, S. 2754, failed to pass in the House even though it cleared the Senate by a 100-0 vote. But the House vote totaled 273-154, which is less than the two-thirds threshold needed for passage under suspension of the committee hearing process.

Going forward, it could pass under another rule that requires only a simple majority, but Werner called its status "unclear." Introduced by Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and co-sponsored by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), it would authorize federal funds for research into obtaining pluripotent stem cells without destroying embryos through methods such as altered nuclear transfer.

But critics such as Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) blasted the compromise measure as politically rooted. She described it as a "fig leaf," and others have charged that it is a smokescreen of sorts meant to appease both H.R. 810 opponents and those who want to see at least some sort of research progress. Of note, though, federal funding could be used for some types of embryonic-like stem cell research without a new law, as long as it does not destroy embryos.

DeGette and Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.), H.R. 810's primary sponsors, were rebuffed in their attempt to meet privately with Bush about their bill earlier this month. She called the veto "one of the greatest mistakes of his presidency."

Bush has made 141 veto threats during his tenure atop the executive branch.

He signed into law a third stem cell-related bill that was debated this week, S. 3504, which passed unanimously in the Senate and House. Introduced by Santorum and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), the measure makes it illegal to perform research on embryos from fetal farms where they could be created specifically for research.