Norm Coleman introduces bill to kill stem cell research

The US Senate is now considering stem cell research legislation and needs to pull together 67 Senators to override a presidential veto. Norm Coleman (MN-SEN) has gone to the conservative playbook and introduced a stem cell bill that the President will like. Norm's bill will hinder the cause of stem cell research. In 2001 Bush banned stem cell research and not surprisingly hasn't budged from his original position despite repeated pleas by conservatives like Nancy Reagan and Govs Arnold Schwartzenegger (CA) and Rick Perry (TX) as well as others. Tom Harkin's (D-IA) stem cell bill is supported by Republicans like Bill Frist (TN) and Arlen Spector (PA), but Norm will not join with the majority of Americans and Minnesotans who want stem cell research.

Norm would like to appear to be a moderate yet keep his fundie friends happy:

For those of us who have family members suffering from serious diseases, stem cell research provides hope for relief from pain and suffering. This complex and emotional issue is not one to be taken lightly.

During my time in the Senate, I have been listening to both sides of this debate, doing some serious soul-searching, and trying to find a way to move the science forward while still honoring a deeply held commitment to the dignity of human life.

I firmly believe that it is possible to support stem cell research and be pro-life. There are both non-embryonic methods and embryonic methods of stem cell research that do not destroy or harm a human embryo and therefore preserve the sanctity of human life.
coleman.senate.gov

WCCO posted an AP article.

Coleman, who opposes legalized abortion, described the legislation as a middle ground solution in the highly charged debate over embryonic stem cell research. Research on cells taken from human embryos typically involves the destruction of frozen embryos created for in vitro fertilization, which is opposed by Bush and many opponents of abortion. Proponents counter that the embryos will be discarded by fertility clinics anyway.

but AP only flippantly acknowledge in the last paragraph that Coleman's effort may not be a solution at all.

But proponents of expanded embryonic stem cell research have been unenthusiastic about Coleman's approach, calling instead for lifting of President Bush's 2001 ban.

This is not reporting. This is stenography. Way to go 'CCO. The stenographer responsible for this story either straight up copies Norm's press release or changes the wording slightly to claim it as their own. Then WCCO runs it. Furthermore, proponents of stem cell research are not "unenthusiastic." In fact, they are opposed to Norm's bill. Even the slightest bit of research (ya heard of Google AP? WCCO?) would have found what the opponents are saying. Maybe call someone at the U of M, WCCO? A website named Stem Cell Battles has some information that WCCO should have considered as counterpoint to Norm's sunny optimism about his bill.

Senate Bill 30, the so-called “Hope Act” by Republicans Norm Coleman of Minnesota and John Isakson of Georgia, is the Stem Cell Trojan Horse.

S 30 pretends to be a moderate middle ground—but it contains provisions which would permanently block federal funding for new stem cell lines by either embryonic methods (IVF) or by SCNT.

Developed with the cooperation of the Bush White House, Senate Bill 30 should be called the “Death of Hope” Act.
(Sacremento Bee, 4/9/07)

The organization StemPAC has this to say:

Produced in coordination with the Bush White House, Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN)'s Senate Bill 30, the grossly-misnamed "Hope Act" is a clear and eminent threat to stem cell research.

It would permanently ban federal funding for new embryonic stem cell lines as well as Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer.

This is far more dangerous than a mere "cover-your-tail" vote-- this is a dream law for opponents of research-- and a nightmare for all who want stem cell research to move forward.
(4/7/07)

Bernard Siegel, Executive Director of the Genetics Policy Institute has this comment on the bill:

In reality, it offers scant hope to patients. Utilizing insidious language directly taken from the talking point playbook of the research foes, the bill would drive the National Institute of Health to push dubious research alternatives to embryonic stem cell research.

The bill directs the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to prioritize the alternative methods of securing embryonic stem cells utilizing the methods described in a White Paper of the President's Council on Bioethics, "Alternative Sources of Pluripotent Stem Cells." That report was widely criticized for touting dubious "false alternatives" to embryonic stem cell research. Indeed, Council member Dr. Michael Gazzaniga, expressed his disgust describing the report as a "diversion from the simple task at hand which is to move forward with the established laboratory techniques, that are already grounded on a clear ethical basis, for studying embryonic stem cell research and biomedical cloning."

The Coleman-Isakson "No Hope Act" would restrict the cloning of stem cell lines through SCNT, a method involving no pregnancy, but using only microscopic cells in a petri dish. SCNT offers promise for creating stem lines burdened with a disease for study of the root causes of birth defects and other medical conditions and for personalized treatments using genetically matched tissues. The bill sets in place impossible hurdles by disallowing the use of embryos to be donated for this potentially lifesaving medical research.
(Genetics Policy Institute)

To summarize, Norm Coleman introduced legislation that the proponents of stem cell research oppose and attempts to spin it as a moderate solution which it is not. Norm has written a bill that is exactly what the Bush Administration and stem cell foes want. The Dems in the US House and Senate will not support Norm's bill and it will go nowhere. The Republicans who support stem cell research may vote for it severly damaging research possibilities if Harkin's bill fails. We need real stem cell legislation and Norm Coleman is only capable of doing the Bush Administration's bidding on this issue or anything that matters to Minnesotans.