The emotional Capitol Hill debate over stem cell research last week divided Macomb County's two representatives, with Rep. Candice Miller "agonizing" over the issue before voting to uphold President Bush's veto and Rep. Sander Levin expressing dismay over the loss of a significant medical research tool.

Bush issued the first veto of his presidency to reject legislation that would allow federal funding of stem cell research. That laboratory work holds promise that, some scientists believe, could lead to treatment for Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, juvenile diabetes, Lou Gehrig's disease and Parkinson's disease. 

In response, the House voted 235-193 on Wednesday for the measure, far short of the twothirds majority needed to override Bush?s veto.

Miller, a Harrison Township Republican, said she struggled with her vote.

"While embryonic stem cell research has shown some promise to help find cures for various diseases, one needs to remember that these embryos represent special and distinct human lives that must be destroyed in order to advance the science," Miller said. "That is a moral and ethical barrier that I believe we as a federal government should not cross."

Levin said the rejection of the legislation flies in the face of polls that indicate up to 72 percent of Americans support embryonic stem cell research.

"The overwhelming support for this bill reflects the life experiences in homes throughout Macomb County, throughout Michigan, throughout the country. Everybody knows of someone who can benefit from this research," said Levin, a Royal Oak Democrat who represents most of Macomb County.

"After thinking about this, I concluded that we can never guarantee the results of scientific research, but without it we guarantee there can be no results."

The laboratory work relies on excess embryos that are slated to be discarded by fertility clinics. The legislation requires that couples who are undergoing in vitro fertilization must give written consent before their embryos can be used for research. 

In Congress, the discussion shaped up as a debate between compassion and morality. Divided lawmakers, most notably pro-life Republicans in the Senate, argued whether excess embryos should remain sacred forms of life or, since they're slated for destruction anyway, ignoring them as a valuable source of research represented a cruel form of denying new life to those who suffer from certain diseases. 

Stem cells are viewed as the building blocks for all body tissue, and researchers believe they offer the opportunity to grow new cells that can repair damage caused by several life-altering diseases.

The Senate voted 63-37 for the legislation but the House?s failure to override the veto ended the debate.

Critics of the legislation said other sources of stem cells, from umbilical cord blood or adults, could sustain valuable research. In addition, private funding of embryonic stem cell work will continue. But supporters of the bill, backed by top scientists across the nation, said federal assistance for embryonic stem cell studies holds the key to medical breakthroughs.

Bush issued an executive order in 2001 that limited federal funding for stem cell research. But experts say only about 20 of the 60 stem cell lines approved have shown any potential for medical benefit. Concerns have been raised that the United States is falling behind other nations in stem cell research.

In his low-key veto on Wednesday, Bush surrounded himself at the White House with so-called "snowflake" babies, those who had been created by excess embryos adopted by couples seeking to have a child.

"This bill would support the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others," the president said. "It crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect."

Congresswoman Miller comes close to siding with the Right to Life stance against in vitro fertilization. The nation's leading antiabortion group has said that in vitro fertilization should not be allowed as long as the process produces excess embryos that are discarded.

"We have done much more to fund research using adult and cord blood stem cells and this is showing great promise," said Miller, first elected in 2002. "We should continue to fund science that helps protect and expand human life, but we must be careful to not violate the dignity of any human being or decide that any life is expendable, particularly innocent life, to achieve these goals."

Supporters of embryonic stem cell research have had powerfully moving proponents on their side, including the late "Superman" star Christopher Reeve and actor Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson's disease. In the Senate, several lawmakers offered emotional testimonials about people who could benefit from the research.

Rep. Levin predicted that stem cells will remain as an issue throughout the November election.

"It's not just an issue because of the campaign, but it will be an everyday part of the democratic dialog. It's inescapable," said Levin, a 24-year congressional veteran.

"When you slam an important door on science, that doesn't make sense to people."

Beyond the actions in Congress, Michigan's stem cell law, one of the most restrictive in the nation, represents another barrier to research.

Levin said his brother, U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, has been at the forefront of behind-the-scenes discussions to put a revision of the Michigan law on the ballot. Initially, the plan by congressional lawmakers and medical experts was to place the issue on the 2006 Michigan ballot. Now, they are shooting for a ballot proposal for voter approval in 2008.

AP contributed to this report.

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