WASHINGTON (AP)
Montana’s two senators split their votes on the issue of embryonic stem cell research Tuesday. Sen. Max Baucus, a Democrat, voted in favor of expanding federal funding for the practice. Sen. Conrad Burns, a Republican, voted against it. The Senate legislation passed 63-37, four votes short of the twothirds majority needed to override President Bush’s promised veto. Both Montana senators voted in favor of two alternative bills: One that would encourage research using stem cells from sources other than embryos and one that would ban “fetal farming,” the possibility of growing and aborting fetuses for research. Both passed 100-0. Baucus said he supports embryonic research because it has the potential to save lives. “Science shows that stem cells could hold the key to finding cures for some of the most devastating diseases on the planet,” he said, citing cancer, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Burns, alternatively, said in a statement the embryonic research would “destroy human life.” “The advances made in researching adult and umbilical cord stem cells, even right here in Montana, have been promising and give me much hope for the future,” he said. Rep. Denny Rehberg, a Republican, voted against similar legislation to expand federal funding for embryonic research last year. Democrat Jon Tester, who is challenging Burns in the November election, said through a spokesman Tuesday that he would have voted in favor of all three Senate bills. “Montana values are doing everything you can to help a sick neighbor,” he said. “We need to devote every possible idea, every possible resource to curing these degenerative diseases.”
