News Well, That Sucks.
A half hour ago, the House failed (235-193) to overturn President Bush’s veto on stem cell research. They needed 290 votes to override the President’s veto.
Let’s give the microphone to my favorite U.S. Rep, Jay Inslee, an original co-sponsor:
For five years now, researchers have been handcuffed. Rather than unshackling them, the president and a minority of House members threw away the key by rejecting a common-sense measure on stem-cell research that would have offered hope to people living with Parkinson’s, diabetes, ALS and other serious conditions. As is the case with organs, we should allow Americans to make their own decision on the donation of stem cells that otherwise would be destroyed.
I’d like to see a vote in the Senate—which is, obviously unnecessary (and maybe even procedurally prohibited now), but it sure would be interesting to see what Rs are willing to buck President Bush.
7 of Washington state’s 9 reps, 6 Ds and 1 R, voted to override the veto (including Republican Dave Reichert). Two Republicans did not: Doc Hastings from Central Washington and Cathy McMorris from Eastern Washington. Here’s the roll call.
While Bush bee-lined it out of Europe to get home to damn the research which would help the sick... the dude in charge of Canada, who left the same G8 conference, flew down to Cyprus to give a ride home to Canadians being evacuated from the Middle East.
Wow, I dream of what it would be like to have a leader of my country that actual gives a shit. Oh, and one with some balls would be great too.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=763cdd78-0922-45a4-b8c5-e2131d75aca7&k=7055