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Thursday, January 4, 2007
Isakson makes his play on embryonic stem cells
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson on Thursday dropped his bill to permit federal funding of embryonic stem cell research on cell lines drawn from days-old embryos that are malformed and thus incapable of survival.
Isakson is sticking his neck out on this issue, and on illegal immigration, trying to bring Congress and President Bush to a meeting of the minds.
Last July, Bush vetoed a bill that would have permitted federal funding of stem cell lines drawn from healthy embryos discarded by fertility clinics and the parents who produce him. The president said the bill violated the sanctity of human life.
Isakson’s bill, drawn up in cooperation with University of Georgia research Steve Stice, would limit researchers to poorly developed embryos that wouldn’t survive implantation in the womb.
Isakson on Thursday acknowledged that he’s been in contact with high White House officials, to see if Bush would buy into his approach. “I’ve had some good conversations,” Isakson said Thursday.
No one has told him yes, but no one has said no, either, the Georgia senator said. In Washington, that qualifies as good news.
Whether Isakson’s measure moves at all will depend on whether the newly elected members to Congress have given advocates of less restrictive research a veto-proof margin.
A House vote is on embryonic stem cell research is scheduled for next Thursday. Senate hearings are to begin Jan. 22.
Welcome to ‘08 and the race for the 8th
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nancy Pelosi had barely finished her maiden speech as the first woman to become speaker of the U.S. House on Thursday when the e-mail from Mac Collins rolled in.
Collins, you’ll remember, just missed knocking off incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall of Macon, a Democrat, last November.
Today, Collins was back in campaign mode, attacking Marshall for casting his vote to name Pelosi as speaker.
“I am deeply concerned that Jim thinks that he will change Mrs. Pelosi into a moderate, something he has implied since the election,” Collins said.
So in one sense, this was an attack on Marshall. But this sounds more like a message aimed at Republicans. Collins is thinking about another crack at Marshall, and wants other Republicans to stay out of his way.
Another fight over who controls the glove compartment of your car
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We hear tell that the National Rifle Association plans another, but bigger, push to pass a bill this session that would allow employees to keep firearms in their automobiles on company parking lots. Many companies currently bar employees from carrying weaponry onto corporate turf.
The bill would set up the re-match of a classic fight between two conservative principles: the right of property owners to control their land without government interference, versus the right of individuals to preserve their right to bear arms in a society that’s increasingly dominated by the rules of the workplace.
This time, to avoid provoking big corporations, the bill would exempt companies that have their parking lots secured by gates and fences. Opposition from corporations did the bill in last year.
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