President Bush Vetoes Stem Cell Research Bill
President Bush has vetoed a federal bill that would have lessened federal funding restrictions for embryonic stem cell research. According to the New York Times, Bush also "issued an executive order intended to encourage scientific advances in regenerative medicine, a move that he said would respect 'the high aims of science' without encouraging the deliberate destruction of human life." Two-thirds majority votes are required in both the Senate and the House in order for Congress to override the President's veto, and supporters of the bill concede that those votes would fall short. Today's action marked the third time President Bush has exercised his presidential veto power since he took office in 2001.