The Bill: H R 810 (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act)
Date Passed: July 19, 6:51 p.m.
About: Last night, the House brought this legislation back to the floor (they had already passed it last year) in an attempt to override President Bush’s veto. The bill would have restored federal funding to new stem cells lines. In 2001, Bush created restrictions that allowed federal funding only for stem cell lines already in existence.
Unfortunately, the vote last night was 235-193 -- 51 votes short of the two-thirds needed for a veto override.
The fact that Bush used his first-ever veto to spike this bill (saying it “crosses a moral boundary”) is troubling to say the least, but the fact that all but one of NJ’s Republican representatives helped him do it is especially disturbing.
In a year where the state legislature passed a flawed budget that included a regressive tax, and when more average New Jersey residents than ever seem to be concerned about budgetary priorities, the loss of this federal funding means increased state spending.
As the Star-Ledger reported today, NJ has already appropriated $25 million to stem cell research, and will consider allocating up to $750 million more this fall.
Don’t get us wrong, City Belt believes that NJ should lead the way in stem cell research – it’s a win-win all around. But the financial burden should not be entirely shouldered by the residents of NJ because of a president and his cronies on the religious right.
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11) was the only Republican to break ranks and stand up for those who are ill, and for this state.
They Voted For It:
Robert Andrews (D-1)
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-6)
Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-8)
Steven Rothman (D-9)
Donald Payne (D-10)
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R - 11)
Rush Holt (D-12)
They Voted Against It:
Frank LoBiondo (R-2)
Jim Saxton (R-3)
Christopher Smith (R-4)
E. Scott Garrett (R-5)
Michael Ferguson (R-7)
How They Voted is a regular City Belt feature breaking down how New Jersey’s congressmen voted on the bills we think are important.
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