(Sen)Casey(D) to oppose bill on embryonic stem cell research

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette

After months of meetings with people on both sides of the stem cell debate, Sen. Bob Casey said today he will oppose a bill that would clear the way for government financing of new embryonic stem cell research.

Legislation coming up for debate in the Senate tomorrow would lift President Bush's 2001 ban on taxpayer-funded research of embryonic stem cells developed after that time.

In an effort to win the support of lawmakers like Mr. Casey who have backed the ban, sponsors included a provision stating that Congress endorses all types of stem cell research. A similar bill passed Congress last year but was vetoed by President Bush.

Mr. Casey, D-Pa., has been lobbied by bill backers attempting to garner the two-thirds Senate support needed to override a presidential veto.



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07099/776497-100.stm

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Damn him! I'm glad he took out Santorum - but wish Dems in my state would've found a better candidate. I didn't donate and vote for Casey for him to vote his conscience on this.

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Let's hope that Casey has an inoperable tumor as a curse..

Not that I'm advocating cursing our Dems, but Casey is in the wrong about this.

Hawkeye-X

[JI7]

5. didn't his dad die of something where stem cell research

could have helped ?

[Cha]

2. Just what is the thinking of

Casey on this? What exactly is it hurting to develope Stem Cell research to help millions with diseases like Parkinson's?

[RamboLiberal]

8. Probably - he had a genetic disease

In 1990, Casey was diagnosed with Appalachian familiar amyloidosis, a genetic condition where proteins invade and destroy bodily organs. To combat the disease, he underwent an extremely rare heart-liver transplant on the morning of June 14, 1993. The announcement of Casey's disease was made just days before he underwent the transplant, and as a result many unfairly accused him of receiving preferential treatment with respect to donor waiting lists. In fact, Casey had been on the list for over a year, but this information was not widely known.

Before undergoing the operation, he transferred executive authority to lieutenant governor Singel, marking the first time Pennsylvania was under the leadership of an acting governor. Casey resumed his duties on December 13, 1993, almost six months to the day after he underwent the operation.

Following his operation, Casey strongly supported legislation that encouraged organ transplants by guaranteeing access to the families of potential organ donors by organ recovery organizations, providing drivers' license identification of potential donors, and establishing an organ donation trust fund from voluntary donations to promote the benefits of organ donation. Today the organ donation trust fund is named in his honor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Casey

Not being a scientist I don't know if this disease is a candidate. This same disease got a very good mayor in Pittsburgh - Richard Caligiuri(sp) and also killed Mayor Tullio of Erie, PA.

[brentspeak]

9. Very strange. This is a rare disease, but these three PA politicians all developed it.

[blue neen]

3. I'm very disappointed by this.

You know, his father benefited from modern medical science when he had his transplant. Why shouldn't the rest of the people in this country have the same chance his father had?

[Cha]

10. Can you write to him and ask him..

why..being a constituent and all?

[RamboLiberal]

12. I wrote him tonight

I've written several times and yet haven't gotten a reply. If I had to say one good thing about Santorum it was he did write back every time I b*tched at him. Course the letters were never on subject or completely ignored what I wrote. There were so many Santorum letters in my mailbox my letter carrier must've thought we were penpals. :evilgrin:

[Cha]

26. Thanks! No earthly reason

you shouldn't get an answer from Casey..what's up with that!

[WindRavenX]

4. Disappointing

NT

[JI7]

6. not surprising

but still disappointing.

[brentspeak]

7. Dumb. Casey's confusing abortion with this issue.

[bleedingheart]

22. he is going to blindly follow the Catholic Church...

he does what the Pope wants him to do...

[Ignacio Upton]

11. Sucks, but not surprising

I'd still rather have him than Santorum. Just don't put him on committees dealing with these issues.

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. A Senator keeping a campaign promise?

Imagine that.

[RamboLiberal]

14. I don't think he promised that

If I remember correctly he skated around it but the hint was there he would vote against. I'm not suprised he will vote this way.

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. He said that he would vote against this bill:

No embryonic stem cell research; adult research ok

Q: Would you explain your stance on embryonic stem cell research and human cloning?
A: I support the current federal policy on embryonic stem cell research.

Q: How would you vote if the Castle bill came to you in the Senate?

A: I would oppose the Castle bill to expand federal support of embryonic stem cell research. As a US Senator, I will strongly support funding for stem cell research that doesn't destroy an embryo. There are many promising techniques under development that don't require destroying the embryo and there's good reason to hope that soon we'll be able to remove the politics from this issue. I also strongly support increased federal funding for research on stem cells derived from adult cells, bone marrow and placentas - areas where tremendous progress has already been made.

Source: Valerie Schmalz, IgnatiusInsight.com interview Jul 29, 2005

more: http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Bob_Casey_Abortion.htm

[Old and In the Way]

15. Would the bill have even been voted on if Casey wasn't elected?

I recall that Casey was not going to be an ally on abortion and stem cell research...but his election has allowed the Democratic majority to take back the Senate and allow us to control the agenda. I think there are a enough Republicans willing to vote their conscience on stem cells to defeat the veto...I don't think Bush has a rock solid caucus on this issue.

[countmyvote4real]

16. Casey is still on the wrong side of this issue. n/t

[rodeodance]

20. REcall that the previous Congress HAD passed a bill and Bush VETOED

it-----his only veto

[PittPoliSci]

17. arrrgh, he continues to disappoint.

[Pastiche423]

18. Don't think I will ever

understand the mind of a person that works to deny help for people w/diseases and injuries that may be helped by Stem Cell Research.

May he be in the same situation someday and be denied help!

[saigon68]

19. They are religious Nut cases

[bleedingheart]

21. Not only can't he speak properly....but he is voting the way I feared

....glad I didn't support him in the primary and while I held my nose to vote for him in Nov...I won't do it again.

[TommyO]

24. Just contacted Casey's office and let them know I was disappointed

I also reminded them that Pennsylvanians could easily remove him from office in 2012, just as we did Senator Santorum.

[Penndems]

25. Pennsylvanians need to contact Senator Casey's office and urge him to vote "yes":

Website: http://casey.senate.gov/

Senate office address and telephone number:

383 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: [phone]
Toll Free: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Harrisburg office:

555 Walnut Street, First Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: [phone]
Toll Free: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[chelsea0011]

27. It's one thing to oppose abortion on principles, it's another

to be so ignorant to think a group of cells could become a human being. I saw a comedian, Jimmmy Tingle, the other night. He equated having a small group of cells with a chance of becoming a human being, thus life, as the same as carrying a bunch of acorns in a bag and saying you are walking in a forest.

[KansDem]

28. I have diabetes

Anyone who mucks around with research that could find me a cure is my sworn enemy! I find it intolerable that elected representatives of the United States would politicize this important issue. Especially if their reason for doing so has to do with a myth and some guy halfway around the world.

I expect this unenlightened behavior from the Repubs, not a Dem...:grr: