The Daily Background
| Could Dems pass a veto-proof stem cell bill?
by Arlen Parsa
NYDN reports today that Senate Dems might just score a huge victory over President Bush by passing a veto-proof stem cell research bill. The House, which passed a similar bill in their First 100 Hours did not quite manage a veto-proof margin, but some think they might be able to bolster the House vote if the Senate managed a veto-proof margin. Here’s the NYDN:
Democrats think they are oh-so-close to writing up a veto-proof embryonic stem-cell research law, and at the very least they plan to pass a bill they can use to hammer President Bush.
The Senate and House passed a bill to allow federal funding of new embryonic stem-cell research last year, but could not override Bush’s veto.
“We’re within one or two Republicans of being able to override,” said Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
The Senate is reigniting the battle today, with plans to pass a bill by tomorrow.
Of course that could just be the NYDN being the NYDN. But it’d be a huge victory if Democrats were able to pass this imensely popular legislation and then have Bush veto it and then override it. There have only been two veto overrides in the past 15 years or so, so this would make for some nice headlines and bolster the Bush-is-out-of-touch meme.
