Pombo: "I will continue to oppose stem cell research"

Jerry McNerney held a press conference yesterday, expressing his support for embryonic stem cell research.

Lisa Vorderbrueggen covered it in the Contra Costa Times:

... Flanked by a renowned stem cell research advocate, a San Ramon Valley pediatrician and a Danville mother of a 4-year-old daughter with cystic fibrosis, McNerney called embryonic stem cell research an integral component of his health care reform platform.

"Health care is a very important issue to me, and stem cell research is one part of that," said McNerney during a news conference held on the perimeter of a children's playground in San Ramon. "We need to move forward with stem cell research. Our country needs to support it as a tool for our health system."

Pombo has consistently sided with President Bush, who opposes the destruction of human embryos for stem cell research.

The congressman was among 180 Republicans who opposed a bill this past spring that would have expanded federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Defying a threatened presidential veto, Congress passed the legislation. Pombo voted against the motion to override the president's veto.

But Pombo said he voted the same day for federal funding of research on adult stem cells and previously approved embryonic stem cell lines.

"A fertile embryo is human life and I have consistently opposed destroying human embryos for research and I will continue to oppose it," Pombo said.

Vorderbrueggen reports that this is an issue that touches everyone, regardless of party registration:

Unlike other hot-button issues that divide conservatives and liberals, many Republicans support embryonic stem cell research, including Nancy Reagan, wife of the late President Reagan.

The voters in Pombo's district have supported it, too.

Proposition 71, a $3 billion statewide bond in 2004 to fund stem cell research, passed in District 11 with a 10 percentage point margin -- 55.5 percent to 45.5 percent -- although by a narrower margin than the rest of the state. District 11 stretches from Morgan Hill to Danville and encompasses most of San Joaquin County.

Pam Nett of Danville, who describes herself as "pro-life," said embryonic stem cell research could hold the secrets of a cure for cystic fibrosis, the debilitating disease that afflicts her daughter, Jessica. Stem cell replacement therapy, she said, could help repair Jessica's damaged lung tissue and DNA analysis could help lead to a cure for cystic fibrosis.

The actions of Bush and Congress to limit the funding "crushed me," Nett said. "A cure is 10 years down the road because it takes so long already. I'm pro-life, and I believe stem cell research will save the lives of millions of people."

Colleen Hogan, a pediatrician with the San Ramon Valley Primary Care Medical Group, and stem cell advocate Don Reed emphasized the need for the United States to tap into the thousands of embryos stored in fertilization clinics that will be destroyed.

Reed, who formed Californians for Cures after his son was paralyzed in a football accident in 1994, urged voters to select McNerney as the district's next congressman.

"I don't need Richard Pombo to make my family's medical decisions," he said.

If you believe we need a new direction on stem cell research, please tell your friends about Jerry's campaign for change.