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The Sacramento Bee - Capitol Alert Trent Lott backs stem cell research By LAURA MECKLER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (June 24, 5:05 p.m. PDT) - Contradicting some abortion opponents, the Senate's top Republican, Trent Lott, said Sunday that he sees "great potential" for controversial research that uses stem cells from human embryos. President Bush is now weighing whether to allow federal funding for the research, which scientists say holds tremendous promise but which is contentious because the cells are derived from embryos leftover from fertility treatments. Lott stopped short of endorsing federal funding, declining to state his position. But he said he told Bush that "this is an important issue that has potentially significant health benefits." "There are some delicate questions here, but the benefits are substantial, as we understand it, and they should be carefully considered," Lott, R-Miss., said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." "Obviously, there is some great potential there." Some abortion opponents, including the Catholic Church, say the research amounts to unethical experimentation on an early life. Others, including several high-profile Republicans, say the benefits outweigh the harm, particularly because the embryos are going to be destroyed anyway. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson - another anti-abortion Republican who has voiced support for the research - has promised a decision by mid-July. Stem cells, the building blocks for all human tissue, are present in adults as well. But the cells derived from embryos are the most versatile because they are the least developed. Researchers say using them could lead to revolutionary treatments for Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and other ailments. But federal law bans the use of tax dollars on any research that destroys embryos. The Clinton administration got around that by ruling it's OK to use the stem cells in federally funded research, as long as private dollars paid for them to be extracted from the embryos. It's now up to the Bush administration whether to maintain that interpretation or change the policy. Several high-profile Republicans are urging Bush to allow the research to move forward. "I think it is probably something that is good for America, good for medical research, and could save lives," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition." Republican Sens. Orrin Hatch of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine each wrote Bush in recent days supporting funding for the research. Other GOP supporters include Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina and Gordon Smith of Oregon and former Sen. Connie Mack of Florida. "I have rarely, if ever, observed such genuine excitement for the prospects of future progress than is presented by embryonic stem cell research," Hatch wrote in a letter to Bush. Many Catholics say the research is unethical because the embryos that are used are the start of human life. "The end doesn't justify the means," Richard Doerflinger of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops said on "Fox News Sunday." "We don't use the fruits of unethical research." http://24hour.sacbee.com/24hour/politics/story/596136p-640084c.html CNN http://www.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/06/24/stem.cells.ap/index.html The Boston Globe http://www.boston.com/dailynews/175/wash/Lott_calls_stem_cell_research_:.shtml The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal http://www.jsonline.com/news/nat/ap/jun01/ap-stem-cells062401.asp Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/wires/wpolitics/20010624/tCB00V3389.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn