PenceBlog: <b>Pence applauds President's veto of embryonic stem cell bill, calls issue "a matter of core moral principle"</b> - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana

Yesterday afternoon President Bush vetoed a bill that would have expanded federally supported embryonic stem cell research. Congressman Pence applauded the President's move and later voted along with other House conservatives to sustain the veto.

The following are today's articles that cover the issue:

Sheryl Gay Stolberg of the New York Times writes that President Bush says the bill "violated his principles on the sanctity of human life by encouraging the destruction of embryos left over from fertilization procedures."

Here is another excerpt:

"'This is a profound moral issue,' said Representative Mike Pence, Republican of Indiana, after the White House ceremony. 'The issue is whether or not it is morally right to use the taxpayer dollars of millions of pro-life Americans who find this research morally objectionable.'"

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PBS ran a segment, with audio, on its NewsHour program about the stem cell issue and interviewed members of Congress, including Rep. Pence.

Here is an excerpt:

"REP. MIKE PENCE (R), Indiana: As a pro-life American, like millions of Americans, I believe that it is morally wrong to destroy nascent human life for the purpose of benefiting other human life. And I commend the president for taking a strong, principled, moral stand on this issue."

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Stephen Dinan of the Washington Times says "conservatives in the House said they relished the chance to uphold this veto."

"'We have campaigned, with some exception, since the days of Ronald Reagan, as the party committed to the sanctity of human life. Today with [his] first-ever presidential veto, this president put feet to that pledge,' said Rep. Mike Pence, Indiana Republican.

"He also dismissed critics who said Mr. Bush was playing politics or playing to his base.

"'It takes about one conversation with the president of the United States, where you see a change in his countenance, a change in the tone of his voice, to know that this is not a policy issue for him, and it's certainly not politics. It's a matter of core moral principle,' Mr. Pence said."

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This Indy Star article says conservatives "balk at the idea of experimenting upon human embryos."

Here is another excerpt:

"'This is a matter of the heart, a matter of the core principle about human dignity and the limit of science,' said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., chairman of the conservative House Republican Study Committee."

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Amy Fagan of the Washington Times writes about opposition to using government money to fund stem cell research.

"'I don't think we've made that case yet -- that this is an issue of federal dollars,' said Rep. Mike Pence, Indiana Republican. 'This is only a debate of whether we want to use the taxpayer dollars of millions of Americans to fund research they find objectionable.'"

posted by Pence Press Office # 7:16 AM