[Mb-civic] EDITORIAL Bush Obstructionism LATimes

[Michael Butler]

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-vote9aug09.story

EDITORIAL

Bush's Obstructionism

 August 9, 2004

 Poll after poll finds that Americans overwhelmingly support lifting
President Bush's constricted stem-cell research policy and renewing the
expiring federal assault gun ban. Yet the president's reelection game plan
is trumping the desires of most Americans and, apparently, a majority in
Congress.

 Bills that would accomplish both critical goals are stalled. Congressional
leaders, taking their cue from a president anxious to please a loyal
minority of hard-right voters, refuse to schedule votes.

 Many scientists believe that research using human stem cells holds promise
for treating such ailments as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, muscular
dystrophy and diabetes. But three years ago, Bush limited federally funded
researchers to 64 existing embryonic cell lines, arguing that experimenting
on human embryos was tantamount to abortion and would encourage more
abortions. Even many antiabortion lawmakers disagree with Bush, knowing that
there are an estimated 400,000 frozen "test tube" embryos, mostly in
fertility clinics, that researchers could use and that would otherwise
probably be discarded.

 The approved cell lines have largely proved unavailable or unusable for
research. Several pending bills, including one co-sponsored by Sens. Orrin
G. Hatch (R-Utah) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), would expand stem-cell
research. Expansion draws support from lawmakers in both parties and has
been passionately boosted by Republican icon Nancy Reagan. For voters, it
isn't even a close call: 72% of Americans in a June poll backed stem-cell
research. Still, House and Senate leaders won't budge.

 They are playing the same cynical game on assault guns. A poll released
last month found nearly 80% of Americans support renewing the 10-year-old
ban on the manufacture and sale of certain semiautomatic assault guns. That
ban expires Sept. 13. Even a majority of gun owners have told pollsters they
think the ban on such murderous weapons makes sense.

 Most senators seem to agree: An amendment reauthorizing the ban passed in
March, 52 to 47, but the larger bill to which it was attached died. Senate
Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) hasn't allowed a vote since, and House
Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), who admitted last week that the measure
"might have a chance on the floor," has blocked all votes.

 Look to the National Rifle Assn. for the reason why. Killing the assault
ban is one of the group's top goals. In years past, Bush said he supported
the ban, but these days he's anxious to win the NRA's endorsement, as he did
in 2000. So he has stayed mum, and GOP leaders won't put him on the spot by
sending a renewed ban to his desk. Maybe the inaction of Bush and GOP
lawmakers will help the president among his most conservative supporters,
but it is against what most Americans see as their best interests.


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