WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Top aides to President Bush expressed mixed views on whether he might eventually consider expanding embryonic stem-cell research beyond the limits he set.
In separate interviews, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card left open the possibility Bush might at some point allow funding for research beyond the 60-plus stem cell lines now identified, while Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson ruled it out.
In a politically charged decision, Bush on authorized federal funding on stem-cell research. But he limited it to roughly 60 existing stem-cell “lines” created from embryos destroyed in the process, meaning the life and death decision on them has already been made.
Card, asked on ABC’s “This Week” program if the president might provide additional research funds, called the question hypothetical but said: “The president is not closed-minded. He’s open-minded.
“But we think this is the right decision right now, and let’s allow the NIH to do its business,” he added, meaning the National Institute of Health must issue regulations and create a process for funding the research.
The first federal finding is unlikely before the beginning of 2002, after the regulations are drawn up and approved, he said.
But on CNN’s “Late Edition” program, Thompson said:
“The president is very strong in his position, that he has indicated that no federal research dollars will be used for the derivation, the destruction of any future embryos. And I think that that is a moral decision that this president’s made, and he’s not going to cross that.”
Scientists believe stem cells offer hope for cures to diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
ANOTHER 100,000 EMBRYOS
Meanwhile, the man chosen to head Bush’s stem-cell research advisory council, Dr. Leon Kass, said whether the 60 existing lines are sufficient to fulfill research needs is a “serious question” but will probably be enough for the next decade.
Bush refused to allow harvesting of stem cells from 100,000 embryos frozen at fertility clinics, as scientists would prefer.
In making his decision, the president sought a middle political ground between those who want as much stem-cell research as possible and those opposed to any research that destroys human embryos. He has not quelled the controversy, however, and took the unusual step of defending himself in an op-ed piece in the New York Times.
In it, he underscored that under his policy, existing stem cell lines must be derived with the consent of informed donors, from excess embryos created solely for reproductive purposes and without any financial inducements.
Many scientists have expressed doubts about whether the 60 existing lines – including 30 in the United States and others in Europe and Asia – are sufficient.
Kass gave credence to this view, telling CBS’ “Face the Nation” program: “I think that’s a serious question, and we will have to revisit it.”
But, Kass added, “I think for the time being, and certainly for the basic research, to get these questions answered, and to make sure that this isn’t just a lot of hype, I think this will be sufficient, and sufficient perhaps even for a decade.”
A battle in Congress was shaping up, with some lawmakers promising to introduce legislation to expand research beyond Bush’s limits and others vowing to defeat such efforts.
Card declined to say if Bush would veto such legislation, but did not believe it would pass Congress at this time.
Card said the government may fund some research in other countries as well as in the United States.
