Frist 'forgets' stem cell promise

Remember those courageous Republicans who stood up to President Bush last year to support expanding stem cell research?

The effort to pass the bill expanding research has stalled because Sen. Bill Frist, the Republican leader, has either forgotten or reneged on his promise to bring it to a vote. Frist, the doctor who would be president, may have let his presidential ambitions and fear of losing the right-wing base fog his memory.

StemPAC, formed to support stem cell research, thinks Frist needs a reminder:

Back in the spring of 2005, we started StemPAC to help fight back for stem cell research. Our main goal was to fight for the passage of HR 810 -- a bill that would rescind President Bush's draconian restrictions on this research, restrictions that have needlessly delayed the medical breakthroughs which such research might bring.

As you may remember, we pushed hard for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to reconsider his opposition to the bill. We launched petitions. We collected stories. We even produced a TV ad taking on Senator Frist on this issue. And in July of 2005 -- Senator Frist switched his position, announced he would support HR 810, and promised to bring it up for a vote.

Well, we thought we had won. We even thanked Senator Frist for taking such a courageous step. And then we waited for Senator Frist to make good on his promise. We were first told "by the end of 2005." And then "first thing in 2006." And still, we wait. And wait. And wait. Well, we've waited long enough.

Enough is enough. It's time to stop playing politics with stem cell research. It's time to rescind senseless policies that have needlessly extended the suffering of millions of Americans. It's time to send Senator Frist a message:

Tell Senator Frist to keep his promise

Stay tuned for more. The fight isn't over -- it's just begun.

The StemPAC Team