President Bush Considering Ethical Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Bush has drawn a line in the sand and refused to cross it when it comes to using taxpayer funds to pay for any new embryonic stem cell research. Because he opposes the destruction of human life necessary to obtain the stem cells from embryos, Bush has threatened to veto a bill funding the unproven research. However, in recent days, members of Congress have met with the president and pitched him the idea that embryonic stem cells can be obtained without killing the human being. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is considering legislation to fund experimental research presented to Bush's Council on Bioethics suggesting that methods exist to harvest embryonic stem cells ethically. The panel and pro-life groups are skeptical about some of the ideas scientists presented, but others have the potential to collect the embryonic cells in an ethical manner. Rep. David Dreier, a California Republican, was one of three lawmakers to meet with the president about the idea earlier this month. He told the Associated Press, "There was a sense around the table that if we could discover a way to extract the stem cells without destroying the embryo, that that was something that nearly everyone could support." "The president was very enthusiastic about that. He clearly supported it," Drier said. Sen. Rick Santorum, a Pennsylvania senator and leading pro-life advocate, also met with Bush and said he may try to attach an amendment to a spending bill that would authorize funds for the experimental research. Frist said the funding could come in a stand-alone bill. "We'll probably consider a number of bills," Frist said. Read the complete story.