WASHINGTON, D.C. — New legislation on embryonic stem cell research could be offered before November's election, Rep. Diana DeGette said today.

 
DeGette, D-Denver, who authored a bill on the research that President Bush has twice vetoed, said new scientific developments call for a new bill.

Fellow lawmakers who support the issue, meanwhile, are asking for a vote on the legislation she said.

DeGette called embryonic stem cell research "a positive wedge issue" that could be used in November's election.

The hope would be to see more supporters of the research elected because, despite gains in 2006, advocates do not yet have a veto-proof majority.

DeGette is hoping that will change.

"This year I would hope that we pick up, No. 1, a pro-stem cell president. And, No. 2, that we would win enough seats in Congress to pass this through.

Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton both would overturn Bush's restrictions on the research. And Presumptive GOP nominee John McCain twice voted for legislation that would have lifted the limits Bush imposed.

That measure would have allowed federal dollars to flow toward research on stem cell lines using embryos left over from in vitro fertilization, slated for disposal and donated by the parents.The new bill, in addition to lifting Bush's restrictions on the research, would call for ethical oversight, DeGette said.

Her comments came during a break today from a House subcommittee hearing on stem cell advances.
Republicans early in the hearing said that science should not override ethics. And that storing embryos for research is problematic.