The Hypocrisy of Embryonic Stem Cell Politics

I keep wondering when opponents of embryonic stem cell research are going to address the issue of those embryos. I can't decide what they'll do. Will they outlaw fertility clinics? Will they mandate that the embroys be kept frozen forever?

I can't decide what they'll do. Will they outlaw fertility clinics? Will they mandate that the embroys be kept frozen forever?

Shhh. This obvious logistical conundrum needn't distract us from the real issue at hand for the conservatives: convincing other people that they value life and liberals do not.

And I think it goes without saying that is far more humane to keep an embryo indefinitely frozen than to toss it in the garbage.

Nope - I didn't mean that part. Read the text legally and thoroughly.

In General- In accordance with section 492, the Secretary shall conduct and support basic and applied research to develop techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, or testing of stem cells that, like embryonic stem cells, are capable of producing all or almost all of the cell types of the developing body and may result in improved understanding of or treatments for diseases and other adverse health conditions, but are not derived from a human embryo.

That section orders the secretary to direct, fund, and support non-embroynic research.

Guidelines- Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, after consultation with the Director, shall issue final guidelines to implement subsection (a), that-- `(2) prioritize research with the greatest potential for near-term clinical benefit

And that section orders the secretary and director to issues final guidelines to implement the above.

The section you quoted above refers specifically to existing legislation and policies that are already on the books from this administration that prevent federal funding of stem cell research. It does not mean that this bill doesn't address those issues; but rather means that the bill is dependent upon the previous language which prevents federally funded stem cell research.

In short, it empowers the Director and Secretary to fund, direct, and implement only the research that this administration finds politically acceptable. Moreover, it may be construed to restrict the direction of research not funded by federal monies if conducted by individuals under the direction of federal agencies.

A bill can't prohibit further legislation. That would imply that Congress has the authority to constrain it's own actions but lacks the authority to overrule itself - a logical paradox.

The bill in question, however, represents a codification by legislation of Bush's previous executive order on embryonic stem cell research. Indeed, the section you quoted is included to ensure that the legislation in question constrains the Director and Secretary's authority so as to make clear that the Congressional legislation reinforces the Presidential order.

My apologies, I missed a word when typing your second quoted section. It should read:

hamstrings the federal bureaucracy by preventing any actions on the part of the government bureaucracy to appropriate allocate money for, approve, or initiate any form of research regarding embryonic stem cells.

Of course the Congress could, if it wanted to, appropriate money for stem cell research. My use of appropriate in the above section is probably inappropriate too, so I've altered that as well.

The bill prevents the federal bureaucracy from researching embryonic lines however, as the bill directs the Secretary and Director to implement research in compliance with section A which itself specifically excludes research in embryonic lines.

Placental stem cells? Interesting. But that what would people use in their favorite placenta recipes?