Most Republican Voters Support Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Poll Says

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Article Date: 11 May 2005 - 11:00 PDT

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About 57% of Republican voters support human embryonic stem cell research and 40% of Republicans oppose the research, according to a survey conducted by pollster David Winston, who also conducts surveys for the Republican leadership in the House and Senate, the... AP/Las Vegas Sun reports. According to the AP/Sun, the poll of 800 Republican voters showed a 90% approval rating for President Bush and an 88% approval rating for Republicans in Congress -- levels that "far exceed" recent surveys of the general public. Despite strong approval for Bush, the majority of the Republican voters surveyed support embryonic stem cell research (Espo, AP/Las Vegas Sun, 5/9). However, Bush's embryonic stem cell policy -- which he announced on Aug. 9, 2001 -- limits federal funding for the research to stem cell lines created on or before that date. Critics of Bush's policy have said that the embryonic stem cell lines available for federally funded research are not biologically diverse, are contaminated with nonhuman material and are useless for research into possible cures for degenerative diseases. However, opponents of the research say it is immoral because it destroys human embryos (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 4/22). In a follow-up question in the poll, 54% of participants said embryonic stem cell research is "more of a research issue" and 40% said it was "more of an abortion issue," according to the AP/Sun.

Legislation
Republican members of Congress who oppose Bush's policy began circulating the poll this week to show that the party's voters support the research, even if the president and many Republicans in Congress do not, according to the AP/Sun (AP/Las Vegas Sun, 5/9). A bipartisan group of U.S. senators last month introduced a bill (S 876) that would ban human reproductive cloning and loosen federal restrictions on funding for embryonic stem cell research. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) introduced the Human Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Research Protection Act of 2005, saying they will push harder this year than in past years to pass the bill and expect increased support from their colleagues. The bill would make human reproductive cloning a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison or fines of up to $1 million or three times the profit resulting from the violation. The bill also would allow for embryonic stem cell research with informed consent from embryo donors and prohibit the purchase or sale of unfertilized eggs. Under the measure, research also would be prohibited on embryos older than 14 days. The bill also would task NIH with helping to establish ethical guidelines for embryonic stem cell research (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 4/22). Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.), who co-sponsored similar legislation (HR 1822) in the House, said, "Anytime you see a poll like that, that's a strong preference," adding, "Members of Congress understand polls." There is "no indication" that the Bush administration intends to change its policy on embryonic stem cell research, according to the AP/Sun (AP/Las Vegas Sun, 5/9).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/repro The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.