US President renews threat to veto stem cell bill

WASHINGTON - US President George W. Bush on Wednesday renewed his threat to veto a bill allowing federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, one day after it passed the House of Representatives.
"I would be vetoing the bill if it were to pass the United States Senate," Bush, who has never used his power to reject bills since taking office in 2001, told reporters at the White House.
The measure passed the Republican-dominated House by a 238-194 vote, paving the way for a confrontation between Bush and lawmakers in his own party over the controversial measure, which divides many Americans.
Bush in 2001 decided to allow continued central government financing of research on stem cells taken from embryos before August 2001, but barred federal money for stem cell lines developed since then.
Meanwhile, a poll released Wednesday by HCD Research and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion (MCIPO) showed that 74 percent of 1,622 American doctors surveyed between April 21-23 were morally in favor of embryonic stem cell research.