Two Republican senators are proposing compromise legislation that would allow federal funds to be used to support research using embryonic stem cell lines developed from nonviable embryos. Norm Coleman and Johnny Isakson says their bill, which will be taken up this week, would open up new research without offending conservatives who have opposed research that depends on the destruction of embryos. The bill is headed for debate at the same time that Democrats propose a new bill that would take the strings off of federal research funding, which has been limited to a few, older stem cell lines. Coleman's original bill called for $5 billion in new funds for embryonic stem cell research, though the more recent version takes out a specific sum. President Bush has vetoed legislation that allows for greater use of federal funds in the field and there's virtual unanimity that he will veto any other similar bills that come his way.

- read this report on the proposed compromise

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