VOLUME No: 62 Issue No:3

Washington, D.C. - June 18, 2004

Stem Cell Debate Resumed

Following the death of former President Ronald Reagan, arguments over stem cell research have begun once again. Nancy Reagan has pressed for the government to lift the limits on federal funding in order to further stem cell research. For many conservatives, this is controversial because scientists extract stem cells from days-old embryos, even though the embryos are going to be destroyed. Opponents of using embryo cells support an alternative of using adult stem cells which can be taken from adult tissues. The reason scientists advocate using embryo cells instead of adult cells is that adult cells are more difficult to harvest. According to White House spokesman Trent Duffy, “(President Bush’s) policy was based on principle that says federal tax dollars should not go to cover the destruction of human embryos.”

The debate continues with some traditional anti-abortion legislatures such as Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, supporting new stem cell laws while others like Senator Rick Santorum, R-PA, opposing the expansion of stem cell research. The Islamic Free Market Institute Foundation (IFMIF) conducted a survey of Muslim Americans and found that 62% of them support stem cell research. IFMIF supports stem-cell research on spare embryos from in-vitro fertilization. For more information concerning the survey or the Islamic Free Market Institute Foundation’s position on stem cell research, please consult our website. http://www.islamicinstitute.org/iiisues.htm.

Corporate Tax Bills Deliberated in Congress

Legislation is currently being decided upon in Congress which would offset World Trade Organization sanctions. The sanctions were imposed because of an illegal export subsidy in U.S. tax law. The Corporate Tax bills in the House and Senate would replace the subsidies with direct tax breaks for companies. The Senate version passed 92-5 on May 11 and offset the cost of lowering taxes by cracking down on tax fraud and raising border service fees. The House version passed on June 17. Unlike the Senate bill, the House’s is expected to add $34 billion to the deficit over the next 11 years. Major differences are that the House bill includes a $10 billion buyout for tobacco farmers and a provision that allows taxpayers to deduct state income or sales taxes from their federal income tax. The House bill had some opponents such as the fiscally conservative Democrat coalition known as Blue Dogs and Small Business Chairman Donald Manzullo, R-Ill., who thinks the tax benefits for small, domestic manufacturers is still insufficient. Despite these objectors, the House bill passed. Finding a compromise between the Senate and House versions is expected to be difficult especially when it is so close to the elections.

Energy is Key to Economic Strength

Pat Wood III, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is urging Congress to pass the pending energy bill because it will allow the country to have reliable and affordable energy. First the bill will take steps to prevent a repeat of last year’s summer blackout by creating a self-regulating organization to develop mandatory reliability rules subject to FERC oversight and enforcement. Second the bill would allow a natural gas pipeline to be built form Alaska to the lower 48 states. Natural gas is clean and abundant in Alaska but currently there is no way to transport it to the US market. Beyond the energy bill, Wood urges addressing the liquefied natural gas issue by passing a bill introduced by Representative Lee Terry (R-Nebraska). Energy is important to America’s prosperity and Wood feels that the passage of these bills is necessary to maintaining our economic growth.

Medicare will now cover PET scans for Alzheimer’s

Medicare has recently announced that it will now cover the cost of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans for susceptible or predisposed individuals. Recent evidence has shown that these tests can aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia since a clinical evaluation is not always reliable or valid. Tom Scully’s decision, the 2003 Administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), to not include coverage of PET scans, was supported by the Alzheimer’s Association. A CMS spokesperson stated “It takes a long time for these things to evolve.” The National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association took part in decision’s alteration. Research has recently been completed on the significance of PET’s, new evidence was investigated and found to be substantial. The CMS Administrator, Mark McClellan has mentioned that the timing of this decision is purely coincidental to the funeral of Reagan. In 2003, there was insufficient information in order to confirm that these scans would improve diagnosis capabilities. PET scans measure the level of metabolic activity within the body. Early signs of dementia can be predicted with the application of PET scans, however these tests are very expensive and the National Institute on Aging has recommended that CMS only conduct a clinical trial in order to determine accuracy.