Don't be Fooled by Decoy Bills!

[Faye]

Don't be Fooled by Decoy Bills!
From: "Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation"


There is NO "Alternative"
to Passing H.R. 810!

Dear Friends,

We are getting closer to a vote in the Senate on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act .

Our opponents know that the public and scientific community overwhelmingly support expanding stem cell research capabilities. Rather than debate us on the merits of their argument against it, they are trying to muddy the waters with so called “alternatives,” ranging from unpublished, unproven theories with no demonstrated promise to experiments that have only been conducted with animal cells. None are viable methods currently available for creating viable stem cell lines

The fact is that scientists have already discovered a way to ethically derive safe and effective human embryonic stem cells from surplus IVF embryos that will otherwise be discarded and destroyed as medical waste from fertility clinics. Republican Senator Arlen Specter said Tuesday in a hearing, "When the option is to throw them away or use them [in research], it seems to me a clear-cut choice."
We agree.

As Michael J. Fox so eloquently stated yesterday at the Rally, *****expanding stem cell research through H.R. 810 is not only pro-life, it is PRO-LIVING*****. This is not a partisan issue — this is an issue of seizing the promise and taking advantage of the opportunity to provide cures for millions of Americans.

While we support continued scientific research and discovery into alternatives that might one day prove workable, now is the time to expand embryonic stem cell research by passing H.R. 810.

Please help us fend off the anti-stem cell research alternatives and bring H.R. 810 to the Senate floor for passage with no amendments! We urge you to contact your Senators using these three arguments:

1. Stem cell research is extremely important to me and my family (explain your personal reason for supporting embryonic stem cell research). Under President Bush’s current policy, there are simply not enough stem cell lines for federal researchers to work on to make the cures possible that my family and I so desperately need.


2. *****The so-called “alternatives” bills are diversions at best, and at worst, could delay important research and potential cures for millions of patients and their families for years.******


3. Only one bill makes sense for patients, and that is HR 810. Tell your Senator to vote YES for HR 810 without amendments if he or she is truly Pro-Cures. A vote for H.R. 810 is the vote for which you and your family will be watching.

We’ve said this many times but it’s true. We can win this, but we need your senators to hear from you to keep the pressure up.

There is no time to waste. Urge your Senators to vote YES for H.R. 810 with no amendments!


Thank you,

[Faye]

Stem Cell 'Alternatives' Fog the Debate
By Paul Berg, George Q. Daley and Lawrence S.B. Goldstein

July 19, 2005
Source: Washington Post, A21

The Senate is on the threshold of a momentous decision: whether to expand research on human embryonic stem cells. In casting their votes, senators must decide whether to support the judgment of a large, bipartisan House majority (and an overwhelming majority of scientists and the public) or to further delay vital medical research.

Given the general agreement that such research has the potential to relieve the misery and suffering of millions, we find it troubling that opponents of this legislation (H.R. 810 or S. 471) are trying to divert the debate about the merits of expanding this research by promoting dubious approaches to obtaining stem cells that even their supporters concede are scientifically and ethically problematic. What is so bizarre about this effort is that there is no need for the administration and its congressional followers to seek authorization to pursue these proposed "new" approaches for obtaining stem cells. Research on these proposed alternatives is already legal and can be funded by existing mechanisms.

We want to be very clear: The most successful demonstrated method for creating the most versatile type of stem cells capable of becoming many types of mature human cells is to derive them from human embryos -- at present, excess embryos created at in vitro fertilization clinics and freely donated for research by couples who choose not to have them destroyed as medical waste.

While some of the proposed alternatives being suggested may have some promise, they are unproven. Some, in fact, are ethically questionable when performed with human tissues. One idea is to derive stem cells from embryos that have stopped developing and are thought to be "biologically dead." Beyond the fact that scientists haven't developed a reliable method for determining an embryo's "death," there is no scientific evidence that stem cells derived from these embryos would have the required properties or be safe for human therapies.

http://www.cnsfoundation.org/site/Ne...ews_iv_ctrl=-1

[bigbob]

Steven has an opinion already published on the article by Paul Berg, George Q. Daley and Lawrence S.B. Goldstein "Stem Cell 'Alternatives' Fog the Debate,"

However, as someone who suffered a spinal cord injury nearly nine years ago, I believe that the alternatives in the Respect for Life Pluripotent Stem Cell Act (H.R. 3144) -- particularly, somatic cell reprogramming -- may offer the most promise for the future.
Few people truly oppose embryonic stem cell research. What they oppose is the destruction of embryos to obtain these cells. If you remove the destruction of embryos from the equation, even the most strident opponents will support stem cell research. The Respect for Life act attempts to do this.
President Bush has threatened to veto a bill such as H.R. 810, and the bill's supporters do not have enough votes to overturn a veto.
H.R. 3144 has its flaws, primarily a lack of significant funding, but if your op-ed writers want embryonic stem cell research to proceed at a faster pace, they should support both bills and push for H.R. 3144 to include more funding.
STEVEN EDWARDS http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...080201829.html

I would like to remind you

Don't be Fooled by Decoy Bills!
From: "Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation"


There is NO "Alternative"
to Passing H.R. 810!

[betheny]

Imagine that. That's what I thought he was saying!



President Bush has threatened to veto a bill such as H.R. 810, and the bill's supporters do not have enough votes to overturn a veto.
H.R. 3144 has its flaws, primarily a lack of significant funding, but if your op-ed writers want embryonic stem cell research to proceed at a faster pace, they should support both bills and push for H.R. 3144 to include more funding.

[bigbob]

Betheny you can quote Steven

I prefer this by one of your favorite's

Don't be Fooled by Decoy Bills!
From: "Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation"


There is NO "Alternative"
to Passing H.R. 810!

I also thought the need to list this

(f)future developments might eventually make further research on ES cells unnecessary. This is unlikely in the foreseeable future; in the meantime there is a strong scientific and medical case for continued research on human ES cells
from:Conclusions over ESC's v ASC's from a British House of commons stem cell report as posted by cherrylips here

[Faye]

Originally Posted by betheny

Imagine that. That's what I thought he was saying!



President Bush has threatened to veto a bill such as H.R. 810, and the bill's supporters do not have enough votes to overturn a veto.
H.R. 3144 has its flaws, primarily a lack of significant funding, but if your op-ed writers want embryonic stem cell research to proceed at a faster pace, they should support both bills and push for H.R. 3144 to include more funding.

Imagine that,.......sounds remarkable similar to what Dr. Young just said today........and Steven was remarkably up to date on what Dr. Young's vision was going to be 7 months later..........

I wonder which bill would provide funding to Dr. Young's lab quickest........

[Steven Edwards]

Originally Posted by betheny

H.R. 3144 has its flaws, primarily a lack of significant funding, but if your op-ed writers want embryonic stem cell research to proceed at a faster pace, they should support both bills and push for H.R. 3144 to include more funding.

Hey Beth,

Did you notice the bold portion? That must have been a major typo, or they edited my words, because you just know I wouldn't suggest that someone support HR 810.

[bigbob]

Originally Posted by Steven Edwards

Hey Beth,

Did you notice the bold portion? That must have been a major typo, or they edited my words, because you just know I wouldn't suggest that someone support HR 810.

If you want to feel like a good guy for saying you support ESCR(HR 810) one must take into account you support another bill (HR 3144)which was designed to fight the esc lobby. If anything from what I read of your writings I really don't think you truly support ESC research.

[betheny]

Originally Posted by Faye

Imagine that,.......sounds remarkable similar to what Dr. Young just said today........and Steven was remarkably up to date on what Dr. Young's vision was going to be 7 months later..........

I wonder which bill would provide funding to Dr. Young's lab quickest........

Are you implying something specific here?

It looks as though you are implying that Dr. Young and Steven are conspiring, not to cure paralysis, but to increase funding to Dr. Young's lab.

[Ads32]

Originally Posted by betheny

Are you implying something specific here?

It looks as though you are implying that Dr. Young and Steven are conspiring, not to cure paralysis, but to increase funding to Dr. Young's lab.

Surely they both come hand in hand?