Washington – On her 48th birthday, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette awoke to what she called the best present she ever received, one gift-wrapped by Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.
DeGette, D-Colo., learned Friday morning that Frist had cautiously endorsed the Senate version of a bill she co-authored and helped pass in the U.S. House – legislation that would dramatically increase federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research, opposed by many religious conservatives and foes of abortion.
“Sen. Frist coming out in favor of the bill helps pro-life Republicans understand this is reasonable,” DeGette said. “Momentum is only going to grow.”
In endorsing the bill, Frist, R-Tenn., defied President Bush’s threatened veto.
One of the president’s closest allies, Frist also all but guaranteed that the legislation will come to the floor for a vote.
“He understands my position,” Frist said of Bush in an interview Friday. “He likes his.”
Bush was not angry with him, he said.
“His policy is consistent with my principles. It’s just that mine recognizes that we need more cell lines available.”
Asked if Bush still planned to veto the bill if it passes, the White House on Friday said Bush continues to oppose any federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research on lines created after Aug. 9, 2001, the day Bush issued his policy on the science.
“I think the president has made his position very clear,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a briefing. “Nothing has changed in terms of his position.”
By changing his stance, Frist allows other conservatives to vote for the bill, said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the co- author of the Senate bill.
“It’s an earthquake,” Specter said Friday at a packed news conference, flanked by DeGette as well as a bevy of senators at opposite ends of the political spectrum: Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Gordon Smith, R-Oregon, both of whom say they are abortion-rights opponents; and liberal Sens. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
“The majority leader has given cover to the entire Senate, given cover to the entire House of Representatives,” Specter said. “This is a man who knows science and knows politics.”
Former first lady Nancy Reagan- an advocate of embryonic stem-cell research – praised Frist in a statement.
“Every day that goes by without cures is another day that families watch their loved ones suffer,” said Reagan, whose late husband, former President Reagan, died of Alzheimer’s disease.
“Embryonic stem-cell research has the potential to alleviate so much suffering,” she said. “Surely, by working together we can harness its life-giving potential. Thank you, Dr. Frist, for standing up for America’s patients.”
Anti-abortion groups, including Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family, condemned Frist’s comments. Focus said it had received calls from constituents wanting to know “who was going to hold Frist accountable” for his actions.
“He distorted the pro-life position,” said Carrie Gordon Earll, senior bioethics policy analyst. “He says on one hand, ‘Yes, I believe life begins at fertilization.’ But then it’s OK to destroy some humans when they’re not wanted by their parents.”
The Senate bill will be considered in September, after Congress returns from a month-long recess.
Frist could bring it up by itself or with a group of other bills addressing stem-cell research, some of which ban it to varying degrees.
The backers of the Senate version of the so-called Castle-DeGette bill said they also could try to attach it to a bill funding the Department of Health and Human Services.
If the bill passes and Bush vetoes it, an override would require 67 votes in the Senate and 270 in the House.
The House version passed with 238 votes. But DeGette said there were many lawmakers who came up to her after the vote who said they had voted against the bill and regretted it.
Patient advocacy groups plan to lobby lawmakers throughout August, she said, in case a veto override becomes necessary.
Abortion-rights opponents also are watching, Earll said.
Frist’s remarks are “only cover if you don’t care what the pro-life community thinks of your vote,” she said, “and I guarantee you pro-life groups will be recording this vote.”
Staff writer Anne Mulkern can be reached at 202-662-8907 or amulkern@denverpost.com.
