Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- A leading Republican senator says he believes a majority of U.S. senators now support allowing federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research.
Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Penn.) and 12 other Republican senators sent a letter to President Bush on Friday showing their support for funding of the research. "There is more than a groundswell here," Mr. Specter said. "There is really an avalanche of support."
But the president, who opposes abortion, has grappled with the decision. Stem cells are master cells that can generate body tissue, and scientists believe the cures for many diseases could be unlocked from research using stem cells from human embryos. But abortion opponents say harvesting the cells requires the death of an embryo, which many regard as human life.
The issue isn't pending in Congress at this time although several lawmakers have indicated they will produce a bill if Mr. Bush rejects the funding policy, which had been instituted during the Clinton administration.
Mr. Specter, who has written the president on the issue previously, said he believes there are 75 senators who would vote in favor of stem-cell research should Congress take up the issue -- more than enough to override a presidential veto.
"Stem cell research has demonstrated a remarkable capacity of these cells to transform into any type of cell in the human body," the letter sent Friday said. "If scientists are correct, stem cells could be used to treat and cure a multitude of maladies ..."
The letter also was signed by Sens. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, Ted Stevens of Alaska, Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, Gordon Smith of Oregon, Orrin Hatch of Utah, Richard Lugar of Indiana, John McCain of Arizona and John Warner of Virginia.
The issue has created strange bedfellows. The United Methodist Church, known for supporting abortion rights, asked Mr. Bush, who is a Methodist, to uphold the ban. However, Sen. Bob Bennett (R., Utah), an abortion opponent, called for the funding under strict guidelines. On Thursday, Sen. John Kerry (D., Mass.), sent the president a letter signed by 59 Republican and Democratic senators who support the research.
Earlier this week, Sen. Bill Frist (R., Tenn.), the Senate's only physician and a key Bush ally, said he opposed abortion but felt compelled to support research that could save lives. His comments followed a federal health-research report that said scientists should be free to pursue all avenues of research, including that involving human embryos. The report didn't address the use of federal funds.