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- THE WEEK, Page 21NATIONThe Politics of Cells
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- Bush tries to fend off his first veto override, on fetal-tissue
- research
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- Cells from the human fetus, harvested from elective
- abortions, have shown promise as a source of therapy for many
- incurable diseases. But four years ago, the Reagan Administration
- banned the use of federal funds for fetal-cell research, arguing
- that the practice would legitimize abortion.
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- Now the issue is back before George Bush. Having reached
- a compromise that effectively removes abortion from the debate,
- the Senate has voted overwhelmingly in favor of lifting the ban.
- But no one knows if the House will pass the measure with enough
- strength to override a sure veto from Bush. It is too close to
- call. Faced with that uncertainty, Bush last week proposed
- creating a bank to collect fetal tissue from ectopic pregnancies
- and spontaneous abortions for research. But researchers quickly
- responded that naturally aborted fetal cells are often damaged
- and thus unusable for therapy. Looking for some political
- leverage, Bush portrayed the vote as a loyalty test for
- Republicans.
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