Bush vows to veto bill easing stem cell restrictions

WASHINGTON – President Bush on Friday threatened to veto a proposal by Rep. Michael Castle, R-Del., that would loosen federal restrictions on stem cell research involving human embryos.

“I made it very clear to Congress that the use of federal money, taxpayers’ money, to promote science which destroys life in order to save life is – I’m against that,” Bush told reporters at the White House.

“If the bill does that, I will veto it.”

The House is expected to vote as early as Tuesday on Castle’s legislation, which would loosen federal restrictions on stem cell research that uses human embryos.

In a statement issued after Bush’s veto threat, Castle said his bill has strict ethical guidelines and would only allow scientists access to embryos that had been donated for research.

“Under no circumstances does this legislation allow for the creation of embryos for research nor does it fund the destruction of embryos,” Castle said. “The bottom line is when a couple has decided to discard their excess embryos – they are either going to be discarded as medical waste or they can be donated for research. Let’s uncover the promise of stem cell research in the hope of helping the millions of Americans who are suffering.”