Aug 20 Sacramento
california
Feinstein, Other Senators Renew Stem Cell Push
Published: April 22, 2005

WASHINGTON—Sen. Dianne Feinstein and a bipartisan group of colleagues renewed efforts Thursday to expand embryonic stem cell research, introducing legislation that would allow federal support for such research to be used in treating disease.

A similar bill did not get a vote last year. But Feinstein, D-Calif., Republicans Orrin Hatch of Utah and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Democrat Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts said they would push harder this year and expected more support from colleagues.

“Some major things have changed since the last Congress, and federal action has created a void. And this void is now being filled by states and by private entities,” Feinstein said at a Capitol Hill news conference. “The result is a patchwork of laws, inadequate funding of research, and contaminated cell lines.”

In California, voters in November overwhelmingly approved a measure allowing the state to borrow $3 billion to fund human embryonic stem cell research over 10 years. San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego and Emeryville are competing to land the headquarters for the research initiative.

Feinstein said that nearly 30 other states are also taking action on the issue, including three others that are allowing embryonic stem cell research: New Jersey, Wisconsin and Massachusetts. Five states have specifically prohibited the research.

“There’s such an uneven panoply of laws across the United States,” Feinstein said. She said the federal government must step in or risk scientists “going to Great Britain, they’re going to go to China, go to South Korea.”

Stem cells typically are taken from days-old human embryos and then grown in a laboratory into lines or colonies. Because the embryos are destroyed when the cells are extracted, the process is opposed by some conservatives who link it to abortion.

President Bush signed an executive order in August 2001 limiting federal research funding for stem cell research to 78 embryonic stem cell lines then in existence.

But supporters of more research say that only 19 of those lines are now available to researchers and those available are contaminated with mouse feeder cells which makes their use for humans uncertain.

The senators’ “Human Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Research Protection Act of 2005” would make reproductive cloning, to produce a baby, a crime punishable by up to 10 years. But it would allow for “therapeutic cloning” for the purpose of obtaining stem cells to be used in treating disease.

It would require the informed consent of donors, prohibit the purchase or sale of unfertilized eggs, and prohibit research on any created embryo beyond 14 days.

The National Institutes of Health would help determine other ethical guidelines.

Because stem cells develop into the various types of cells that make up the human body, scientists believe they could be grown into replacement organs and tissues to treat a wide range of diseases, including Parkinson’s, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Reader's Comments
"could embryonic stemcell could cure disease?"
-> Posted by prapti / May 17, 2005
"could diseases be cured thru stemcell cloning?pls answer"
-> Posted by prapti / May 17, 2005
"Bruce, I have been searching all over the bible for prohibitions of, as you say, "the destruction of embryos for “research” purposes" but can't find any. Maybe those Bible Code people could run a search for something like "ESC BAD, ASC GOOooooD". It would be best if Frankenstein himself read the result on CNN."
-> Posted by Bill / Apr 29, 2005
"One error in Bruce and Pam's enthusiasm for adult stem cells, ASC, over embryonic ones, ESC, is the apparent assumption that if ASC holds out medical promise we should abandon ESC. That is not good science, nor is it good medical policy. We should pursue both."
-> Posted by Bill / Apr 27, 2005
"Actually, Bruce, there is nothing hard about my heart at all. As for God, there is nothing there to reject and no evidence or argument to the contrary. In my garden, where I write, there are hummingbirds and bumblebees rolling in the pollen of California Poppies. A very nice place despite the absence of anything like a god."
-> Posted by Bill / Apr 27, 2005
"Let's see, God made the Universe, which made Diane Feinstein, who helped pass legislation permitting abortion which is an atrocity so, therefore, God is an accomplice in atrocity. Nice going, Bruce, I couldn't have done a better job myself."
-> Posted by Bill / Apr 26, 2005
"This is the last posting I will make regarding this subject. I say this with sadness of heart because your hard heart and rejection of God. If you wish to know the truth regarding adult stem cells and Jesus Christ, it is available for you wish to search for it. May God have mercy on your soul."
-> Posted by Bruce / Apr 25, 2005
"I wonder if you are grateful or even aware of the good and the blessings He as given to you, beginning with the gift of life he gave to you through your own parents. Your hostility toward God is not logical. To trust man to be the source of moral understanding or truth is foolish, for man’s thoughts are not absolute. Without God, there is no reason for morality or even debating about life or death. Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die."
-> Posted by Bruce / Apr 25, 2005
"Your ridicule of me does not change the truth about life or death. We have shared with you the truth regarding adult stem cell treatments and embryonic stem cell research. We have shared with you the truth about life and death, and what God has revealed in His Word. You have rejected what has been presented and replied with ridicule, scorn, and blasphemy toward God Almighty."
-> Posted by Bruce / Apr 25, 2005
"Jesus also said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” I do believe this. Without Him I am lost. So you see, Bill, I cannot separate God from the reason for my defense of the unborn or those being conceived. He is the absolute upon which all moral decisions must be made. I cannot deny Him who has given to me so much."
-> Posted by Bruce / Apr 25, 2005
"There is no other name under heaven or on earth by which men and women can be saved. He alone is Truth, for He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father except through me.” He also said, “I and My Father are one.” While praying to God, Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” To reject Jesus is to reject God. But Jesus rose from the dead and promised eternal life."
-> Posted by Bruce / Apr 25, 2005
"4By the grace of God He has shown me that through Jesus Christ my rebellion, that is, my sin, has been forgiven. He took the place of my punishment, and His righteousness is now mine. Am I now perfect? No. But I gratefully accept His Word given through the Bible, and I have learned some of what God is like. This is by His grace. He does not rejoice in the death of a sinner, but rejoices in giving eternal life to all who would believe in the one He sent, Jesus Christ."
-> Posted by Bruce / Apr 25, 2005
"3It is appointed once for man to die, and after that the judgment. Adultery, murder, deceit, robbery, rape, kidnapping, fornication, incest, homosexuality, covetousness, dishonoring of parents, blasphemy, idolatry, rebellion against authority, war, disease, death, abortion, termination of the helpless by the judiciary, and now the destruction of embryos for “research” purposes, are all the symptoms and consequences of those who choose to forsake God. The fool says in his heart there is no God."
-> Posted by Bruce / Apr 25, 2005
"2Your objections are not directed toward us personally. This is not really about stem cells. You rage against God and set yourself up as judge of God. I have accepted His verdict about me – I deserve eternal punishment because of my rebellion toward God. There is no one righteous, no, not one. Do I think that any who die gruesome deaths are any more deserving of punishment than I? NO, but unless I repent of my rebellion against God, I likewise will perish."
-> Posted by Bruce / Apr 25, 2005
"No, Bill, I do not believe the Senators have physically feasted on the dead, but they have based their political careers partially on the murder of babies – abortion – and now they wish extend that to starting life in a Petri dish and then destroying life while they harvest whatever stem cell they think could be “useful.” That they physically do not commit abortions or destroy embryos is irrelevant. They support and encourage both atrocities; therefore, they are accomplices of both."
-> Posted by Bruce / Apr 25, 2005
"If I had the chemicals that were present in a human blastocysts, but separate, say in a bunch of jars, and since potentially, I may be able to mix 'em up and get a embryo started, does that mean I got a potential human in my closet and therefore should have the jars confiscated? Probably my Conga Drums are also potential humans."
-> Posted by Bill / Apr 25, 2005
"Let me ask my representative in Congress, Diane Feinstein, just when was the last time she or her fellow supporters were out robbing graves or feasting on corpses. I am sure, as upstanding members of our communities, they will gladly share with us their experiences along these lines. Or have you asked already?"
-> Posted by Bill / Apr 25, 2005
"Let me ask Bruce, was it science and some Absolute that granted you the opinion that Feinstein, Kennedy, Specter, and Hatch, all believers in God themselves, were ghouls? So you would grant that they were, at least, god-fearing ghouls?"
-> Posted by Bill / Apr 25, 2005
"Tell me this, Pam: Is it possible, in principle, to convince you that you are wrong about Therapeutic Stem Cell Research without having God show up at your front door with a signed affidavit from his boss to the contrary? I am referring to Mrs. God here. If so, I may take some time. And you too Bruce?"
-> Posted by Bill / Apr 25, 2005
"My position, as is Bruce's, IS based on scientific empirical research AND on absolutes. Yours, as evidenced in your passionate outbursts, is based on opinion and on emotion (something that changes constantly). Until you can objectively evaluate both sides of an arugment, you will never present your position logically."
-> Posted by Pam / Apr 24, 2005
"For those of you tracking lawmakers, a good place to start is:
http://www.publicintegrity.org/genetics/report.aspx?aid=193&sid=200
For science and ethics, see:
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml
I do not recommend religious arguments, due to a degree of gullibility required for believing in God, some may find Islam interestingly discerning:
http://www.qantara.de/webcom/show_article.php/_c-476/_nr-127/i.html?PHPSESSID=f8e68a7e1ad04c495d81a1358b3ea265"
-> Posted by Bill / Apr 24, 2005
"Hello Pam and Bruce,
While God is busy smashing baby brains in car crashes and hurricanes, Embyronic Stem Cell research hand wringers gasp at the use of a few cells from blastocysts of less than 150 cells that WOULD NEVER BECOME HUMAN BEINGS. I am not sure God sets such a great example of life preservation. Why not take a look at scientific and medical reason rather than rely on ugly superstition?"
-> Posted by Bill / Apr 24, 2005
""It is unfortunate that Ronald Reagan’s death from Alzheimer’s disease has been used to promote destructive human embryo research. Nancy Reagan’s vocal support of such research in recent months..."
Read more at
http://www.cbhd.org/resources/stemcells/mcconchie_2004-06-16.htm"
-> Posted by Pam / Apr 22, 2005
""As a result of private research, more than 60 genetically diverse stem cell lines already exist" I have concluded that we should allow federal funds to be used for research on these existing stem cell lines " where the life and death decision has already been made", This allows us to explore the promise and potential of stem cell research" without crossing a fundamental moral line ..."--
George W. Bush
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/08/20010809-1.html"
-> Posted by Pam / Apr 22, 2005
""Researchers in Boston have isolated a kind of cell from human bone marrow that they say has all the medical potential of human embryonic stem cells -- a claim that, if verified, could shake up the debate over human embryo research that has divided the country for the past six years. "
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/politics/specials/stemcells/"
-> Posted by Pam / Apr 22, 2005
"Hello Bill,
By the word of God the universe was created. He created man and woman. We did not evolve from a morass of protein slime. We have worth because we were created in His image. He still speaks to us today through His Holy Scripture. My faith is not self-appointed but is a gift from God. My position merely reiterates God’s words “Thou shall not murder.” Sadly, your words show you do not accept His word. Perhaps, by the grace of God, someday you will."
-> Posted by Bruce / Apr 22, 2005
""Stem cells can also be obtained from sources other than embryos. They are called "adult stem cells." Their use is relatively free of ethical conflicts. Both the pro-life and pro-choice movements favor further research on stem cells from these sources."

http://www.religioustolerance.org/res_stem12.htm"
-> Posted by Pam / Apr 22, 2005
"How, might you ask, do I know that an agenda exists in the stem cell research debate? The answer is quite simple. ADULT CELLS are readily available as are the lines President Bush has approved for research. These lines combined with adult stem cells are sufficient for years of research.

Abortion proponents wish to provide justification for what they advocate. So, using embryonic stem cells to benefit mankind, they believe, is justification enough."
-> Posted by Pam / Apr 22, 2005
"As Bruce states, adult stem cells are available from living sources as opposed to being from dead babies. An agenda does exist in this debate...on the abortion proponent side. Any argument that can be used to justify abortion is used. Pragmatism is the philosophical foundation for this argument...the ends justify the means."
-> Posted by Pam / Apr 22, 2005
"Obviously Bill doesn't understand logic either. His first sentence is ad hominem; his second is a serious hasty generalization; the third sentence reverts to ad hominem. In other words, Bill's entire argument is illogical."
-> Posted by Pam / Apr 22, 2005
"Hello Bill,
The truth of the issue is that adult stem cells are successfully being used. Even scientists embryonic stem cell research can only say that embryonic stem cells may provide cures. Go to http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics6.asp for this information. There is no justification for destroying life based on may provide cures when adult stem cells are currently being used without destroying life."
-> Posted by Bruce / Apr 22, 2005
"Hello Bill,
If you go to http://www.scienceministries.org, you will find an article by Dr. Kelly Hollowell, J.D., Ph.D. entitled “What’s Wrong with Embryonic Stem Cell Research.” You will have to type “embryonic stem cell” into the search window. The article will appear on the second page. You will also find there an article printed by A.P. and Reuters entitled “New Study Show Dangers of Embryonic Stem Cell Cloning.”"
-> Posted by Bruce / Apr 22, 2005
"The author, Bruce, of the reader's comments, clearly does not understand either science or logic. If we could implement his principle we would be "living" in a morass of protein slime with just enough room for the moon to skim the tops of the smelly mass. God has not exhorted anybody to do anything in hundreds of years. Only self appointed representatives spout this useless ignorance."
-> Posted by Bill / Apr 22, 2005
"These Senators should be support President Bush's policy regarding stem cells. Stem cell can be obtained from other sources other than embryos, and these stem cells have been used successfully in treating medical conditions.

God exorts us to choose life and not death. We should not be killing or destroying life. Would it be that we had more citizens and Senators who choose life rather than ghouls like Senators like Feinstein, Kennedy, Specter, and Hatch who choose death."
-> Posted by Bruce / Apr 22, 2005
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