Bush vetoes stem cell bill, override fails

As promised, President Bush used his first-ever veto to reject a bill on embryonic stem-cell research that would lift the 2001 ban on public funding of stem cell research. In a 235-193 vote, House lawmakers were unable to override his veto, falling just two votes short of the two-thirds majority it needed. President Bush cited ethical concerns about the new legislation and stated that new treatments could be derived from other forms of stem cells rather than those taken from embryos slated for destruction.

The bill was supported not just by Democrats but also by some Republicans, meaning that the issue will likely rise again at a later date. "This important legislation will become law. It's only a matter of when," Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) told The Wall Street Journal. President Bush's 2001 decision to limit federal support to existing stem cell lines triggered alarm that the U.S. would lag behind in that research area. Since then four states, including biotech hub Maryland, have passed their own stem cell funding initiatives.

- here's the article from the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)
- and read the text of Bush's veto message