The Senate appears to be on the verge of producing enough votes to override President Bush's expected veto of an expansion in funding for embryonic stem cell research when it votes on the issue within the next few weeks.
Backers of the research predicted they will produce the 67 votes needed to override a likely veto from the White House. But the chances of an override seem more remote in the House, where supporters of the research said they are willing to negotiate with the president to avoid a veto.
The House is widely expected to pass a bill clearing more taxpayer money for the research when it votes Thursday. An identical bill — repealing strict White House limits on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research — passed last spring with 238 votes.
Embryonic stem cell research figured heavily in many congressional races, and supporters picked up several votes as Democrats took control of the House. But it appears unlikely that supporters will reach the 291 votes required to override a veto in the House.
That veto still seems likely. President Bush has so far refused to support research that he says supplies taxpayer money for killing embryos for their stem cells.
"The President's policy strikes a balance of supporting funding — federal funding for research into stem cells, while avoiding federal funding that would encourage the destruction of embryos," Tony Snow, the White House Press Secretary, said Tuesday.
Rep. Dianna DeGette, D-Colo., a lead sponsor of the bill, said Tuesday that backers of the research are open to negotiating with the White House to avoid a veto.
"We would be willing to change the bill in consultation with the White House," DeGette told reporters. "What we're hoping is after the House passes our version this week, that the White house will sit down and talk to us about any modifications they think would be appropriate."
Democratic leaders have said they will use House procedural rules to prevent opponents from altering the bill before it passes this week.
In the Senate, opponents of embryonic research said this week that they will try to attach amendments to the bill seeking bans on human cloning and funding of alternative forms of stem cell research.
One possible alternative came to light this week. Researchers from Wake Forest University released a report identifying amniotic fluid from pregnant women as a potential source of stem cells that does not destroy embryos.
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., predicted Tuesday the bill would garner enough votes to override an expected presidential veto.
"We had 63 votes in the Senate last time, I'm confident we'll have a veto-proof bill this time," Specter told reporters.
An override would require 67 votes. Three newly elected senators in favor of embryonic research — John Tester, D-Mont., Jim Webb, D-Va., and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. — replaced incumbents who voted against the bill last year.
That brings the total likely to vote for the bill to 66. Overriding the president could require one more senator to switch sides.
Source: United Press International
