Nice timing. A story in today’s D-G talks about how often Sen. Mark Pryor votes with President Bush.
But … When the Senate votes tomorrow on stem cell research, Pryor will be among the supporters of a bill the president is expected to veto. He issued a statement today.
Stem cell research has the potential to alleviate human suffering and the promise to treat and cure disabling diseases and conditions such as diabetes, cancer, spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s. These are diseases many of us have personally witnessed within our families, churches and communities. There are children in Arkansas who are living with juvenile diabetes every minute of every day, and it would be a disservice to them not to do all we can to find a cure. We must allow responsible scientists the flexibility they need to advance the science of stem cell research in order to provide hope for the future. I recognize the concerns some individuals have over the ethical implications of stem cell research. I have struggled with them myself. I am comforted, however, by this carefully crafted legislation that ensures such research moves forward in a safe, cautious and responsible manner.