Kirk to get vote on stem cell research, but there's a catchHere is the backstory to a vote expected Tuesday on a contentious House bill to allow more federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, the pivotal role played by Rep. Mark Steven Kirk (R-Ill.), and why he was forced to apologize for using a controversial tactic to advance his cause.
Kirk, who represents a North Shore district, is a moderate activist. He's a co-chairman of the Tuesday Group, an organization of like-minded House members, and belongs to the Republican Main Street Partnership, an outside advocacy group of GOP moderates.
A top priority of the Main Street group is passing a narrowly written law to allow couples to donate surplus embryos stored in fertility clinics to federally funded stem cell researchers. The chief sponsors of this bill are Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.), the president of the Republican Main Street Partnership, and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.).
On Friday, President Bush, who in 2001 limited federal aid to research on 22 existing lines of stem cells, threatened to exercise his first veto if this stem cell measure ever reached his desk.
House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), who opposes Castle-DeGette, is allowing a vote nonetheless. "The speaker had an agreement with Mark Kirk and Michael Castle to bring this to the floor as soon as possible,'' House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) told reporters last week. Kirk and company gained the upcoming roll call because a very large group of members backed them. It also did not hurt that as a group, the moderates did not block a budget resolution Hastert wanted.
DeLay, who said he is "adamantly opposed'' to the Castle-DeGette bill, is all for calling it. He does have a surprise up his sleeve. "You've got pro-life conservatives who want this vote,'' DeLay said, himself included.
Ad features Nancy Reagan
"Even though I was an exterminator," said DeLay, referring to his former profession, "my education is in biology and biochemistry, so I think I have a certain understanding about these things, and I am looking forward to the debate so the truth will be told."
Before signing off on the Castle-DeGette vote deal, Hastert negotiated some ground rules with Kirk and the moderates. The moderates will get their up-or-down vote. In return, if they fail, they will not engage in parliamentary maneuvers to lead to more debate and will not back Democratic attempts to attach Castle-DeGette as riders on other bills.
With the pledge of a vote, Kirk and the Main Street partnership geared up a million-dollar media campaign, in part to pressure or persuade Republican lawmakers for their vote. A Main Street print ad featured Nancy Reagan, a staunch backer of using federal dollars for stem cell research.
While Castle-DeGette has about 200 co-sponsors, only about two dozen are Republicans, including Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.), a senior member of the Science Committee. As part of the moderates' drive to pass the Castle bill, Kirk, of Highland Park, and Biggert, of Hinsdale, a week ago held a Chicago hearing on the need for federal dollars to underwrite stem cell research.
Clash on floor over polling
Castle supporters Friday estimated they had 230 ayes, with 218 votes needed to pass. However, it takes 290 votes to override a veto. A companion measure in the Senate has 32 co-sponsors, mostly Democrats; a Senate veto override takes 67 votes.
Part of the Kirk and Main Street strategy to win more GOP backing included polling. The partnership helped to pay for polls to determine attitudes toward the stem cell issue, including a survey of 13 House districts represented by Republicans; five of those seats are thought to be vulnerable.
The poll enraged Rep. Ron Renzi (R-Ariz.), who did not appreciate the pressure of having the moderate group survey his district. Last Monday night, Renzi confronted Kirk and had a heated argument with him on the House floor, which was first reported in the Heard on the Hill column in the Roll Call newspaper.
The bigger issue for Renzi is not so much that his district was polled, but that fellow Republicans did it behind his back. Hastert sided with Renzi.
Kirk ended up apologizing to his GOP colleagues.
As for DeLay, the master strategist was working last week on a surprise that could lure votes away from Kirk's cause. DeLay and his sidekicks are coming up with a bill for more adult stem cell research, not as critical as embryonic funding. Having an alternative stem cell bill will make it easier for undecided members to vote no on the more important Castle-DeGette legislation. Too bad Kirk could not make a public assault against this clever maneuver.
Since the Renzi uproar, Kirk hasn't been heard from. He slipped on a muzzle