Stem cell vote poses a dilemma for some N.C. Democrats

WASHINGTON -- Today's vote in Congress on expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research may be among the most controversial in the Democrats' 100-hour agenda, and it could put some conservative North Carolina Democrats in a tight squeeze between supporting their party and reflecting their districts.

Consider U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, a pro-life conservative just elected to serve the mountainous 11th Congressional District. Shuler of Waynesville campaigned last fall on a platform that, he said, reflected the faith-oriented values of his constituents.

He was recruited and supported by the national party, but it was the local votes that put him in the office. He has said in the past he would support such research only if it involved embryos that already would be discarded.

Across the state, U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre of Lumberton, long the most conservative of the North Carolina Democrats, voted with a majority of Republicans last year against expanding stem cell research when the matter first came up. But he also was a member of the Democratic whip team, charged with bringing others in line on critical votes.

McIntyre said in an interview last week that Democratic leaders know how important it is for members to be able to vote their constituents' needs. And McIntyre will vote against the measure again, his spokesman said Wednesday.

No 'heavy hand'

The bill offers federal funding for research that uses embryonic stem cells. The cells can be developed into other kinds of cells and offer hope for breakthroughs in diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's, multiple sclerosis and diabetes.

Almost identical legislation passed both the House and Senate last year, but it was vetoed by President Bush, and there weren't enough votes to override the veto.

This time, there are more Democrats in Congress to support the party's agenda, including freshmen such as Shuler.

On Wednesday morning, Shuler spokesman Andrew Whalen said the freshman congressman hadn't decided yet how he would vote on the stem cell bill. Hours later, there was no change. "It's still being discussed," Whalen said as night fell.

U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, chief deputy whip for the Democrats, said this week that the party would be more lenient on this issue than others in its 100-hour agenda.

"Some of our members are struggling with it, not necessarily for political reasons, but from their conscience," said Butterfield, of Wilson. "We're not going to whip on this vote with a heavy hand."

Whalen said that as far as he knew, Shuler had not received any pressure about the vote.

"He's not voting with the Democrats," he said. "He's voting his conscience."

For many members, the stem cell vote comes down to when they believe life begins, said Rep. Brad Miller, a Raleigh Democrat and member of the Science Committee who supports the bill.

"On any issue like this, where people genuinely believe that life begins at conception and even a fertilized egg is a human life, that's not something we should require party unity on," Miller said.

Rep. Bob Etheridge of Lillington, whose district covers the farming communities in Johnston, Franklin and Harnett counties, said he talked to constituents just this week about his support for the measure.

"My college coach has Alzheimer's. I have friends who have Lou Gehrig's disease," Etheridge said. "When it touches you personally, you understand."

He said even constituents who disagree with their congressional representatives respect opinions developed out of conscience.

That's the case across the aisle, as well.

U.S. Rep. Howard Coble of Greensboro was the only North Carolina Republican to support the bill last year. And he'll support it again, spokesman Ed MacDonald said. Coble received a lot of thanks from constituents for his vote, MacDonald said.

Last week, Shuler said he would support federal funding of stem cell research only if it involved embryos that would be discarded anyhow, such as those developed for in vitro fertilizations.

The bill being considered today follows those restrictions, supporters said, but Whalen said Shuler still is mulling the legislation.

The vote isn't likely until this afternoon or this evening, and it may not be until the bell rings that Shuler decides.