CQ's Carey Addresses Stem Cell Bills, Abortion Measure, Sunset Commissions, Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill

Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, discusses President Bush's veto last week of legislation that would have expanded federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, a Senate bill (S 403) that would make it illegal to take minors across state lines to obtain abortions, the possible creation of "sunset" commissions to eliminate wasteful federal programs, and the Senate Appropriations Committee's approval of a $606 billion Labor-HHS-Education spending bill for fiscal year 2007 in this week's "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ." According to Carey, Bush vetoed the stem cell bill because it would support "the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others." Carey also discusses a measure (S 403) that would make it a federal crime to take minors across lines to obtain an abortion to avoid state parental notification and consent laws. The bill is expected to pass, Carey says. In addition, she examines legislation sponsored by House and Senate Republicans that would create "sunset" commissions to eliminate federal programs members consider wasteful. Advocates for seniors and the disabled are concerned the legislation could overhaul or eliminate Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, Carey writes, adding that the measure is unlikely to be approved. Finally, Carey discusses a $606 billion FY 2007 Labor-HHS-Education spending bill, which was approved last week by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill includes $64.2 billion for HHS and $28.5 billion for NIH, $220 million more than the amount allocated in FY 2006 and $200 million more than Bush requested. The bill also would provide $1.9 billion for community health centers, $6.1 billion for CDC and $119 million for CDC to prepare for a possible flu pandemic (Carey, "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ," 7/24).

The complete audio version of "Health on the Hill," transcript and resources for further research are available online.

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