 |
 |
This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by [log in to unmask] /-------------------- advertisement -----------------------\ Explore more of Starbucks at Starbucks.com. http://www.starbucks.com/default.asp?ci=1015 \----------------------------------------------------------/ Senate Cloning Bill Stalling June 14, 2002 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 4:57 p.m. ET WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate is at a stalemate in the debate over human cloning and stem cell research, with neither side able to muster the votes to pass a bill. Negotiations broke down this week over the ground rules for Senate consideration of competing bills. One would ban all human embryonic cloning; the other would ban cloning of human beings but allow the practice for medical research in areas such as stem cells. Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., offered to allow a vote on the complete cloning ban -- but only if the other measure got the last word. That offer was rejected by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., chief sponsor of the total ban bill. ``That would be the only way that it will be resolved,'' Daschle told reporters. ``But they will have to make that choice.'' The House last year passed a complete cloning ban that was endorsed by President Bush, who has repeatedly called on the Senate to follow suit. Daschle, however, had committed only to bring the issue to the Senate floor. Brownback tried Thursday to spark the debate anyway, attempting to attach a more limited anti-cloning amendment to unrelated legislation designed to cover the costs of insurance against future terrorist attacks. That relatively narrow amendment would ban the issuance of patents for cloning technology. Earlier, Brownback had unsuccessfully tried to line up support behind a two-year moratorium on cloning rather than a permanent ban. Daschle appears to have thwarted Brownback's effort for a vote on even the patents measure, however. On Friday, the majority leader announced there will be a vote to cut off debate on the terrorism insurance bill Tuesday. If that gets 60 votes as expected, Brownback won't be able to offer his amendment because it is unrelated to the main bill. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said Friday that proponents of the more limited cloning ban also don't have the 60 votes needed to pass their bill. Unless a deal is reached, Brownback intends to try to attach his anti-cloning measure or one of its parts to other pieces of legislation as they reach the floor, an aide said. Daschle, however, said he would simply offer the competing measure as an alternative to anything Brownback puts forward -- meaning the Senate would still have the twin votes. ``You can't abolish the research,'' Daschle said. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Insurance-Cloning.html?ex=1025153368&ei=1&en=bb08d8066204d6db HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact [log in to unmask] or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to [log in to unmask] Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn