The Note: The First Veto

— -- WASHINGTON, July 18

After two-days of debate, the Senate plans to vote at 3:45 pm ET on three provisions related to the availability of federal funds for stem cell research.

Mary Tyler Moore and Dr./Sen./Leader Frist hold a 11:15 am ET photo opportunity on stem-cell research.

Senate candidate Claire McCaskill (D-MO) holds a 2:00 pm ET telephonic press conference to discuss the Senate stem-cell research bills.

At 10:00 am ET, Rep. Ben Cardin (D-MD) will visit the Montgomery County home of Joshua Basile, an intern in the Congressman's office and a quadriplegic, to discuss the need for additional federal funding to advance embryonic stem cell research.

It's Tuesday, so be on the lookout for those Senate policy luncheons and accompanying stakeouts today, where stem cells are sure to come up.

The timing of everything else (the expected Senate passage of the main provision, additional House action, the expected presidential veto on the main bill, and any attempts to override said veto) remains TBD.

In a Washington Post op-ed, Dr./Leader/Sen. Frist writes: "Even though the president has made it clear that he will veto any bill that changes his policy, I believe that the progress of science and a pro-life position demand that Congress send a message." LINK

The Washington Post's Dana Milbank writes that President Bush "faces the prospect of casting his first veto this week against embryonic stem cell research, defying the wishes not just of a majority of Americans and their representatives but also of Nancy Reagan and those representing millions of people with Parkinson's disease, diabetes, spinal injuries and the like." LINK

(By "the like," Milbank surely didn't mean "the media.")

In the same newspaper, Abramowitz and Babington write that the President "appears to be reaffirming his bona fides with religious conservatives" by "refusing to budge from his position" on embryonic stem-cell research. LINK

(By "appears," the Post duo surely didn't mean to rule out that the President is doing what he thinks is the morally right thing to do.)

Sen. Schumer (D-Punditocracy) tells the New York Times that the stem cell issue will work to the Democrats' electoral advantage in November. LINK

Rick Klein of the Boston Globe repots that "Bush's veto of a measure that appears to enjoy strong public support will be a deep disappointment to GOP moderates, including some who are facing tight reelection campaigns in a year that Democrats have high hopes for taking control of Congress." LINK

"The Democrats [may] finally find themselves with an issue that helps them, at least in the margins, with swing voters," writes ABC News' Jake Tapper on the President's expected veto of the Senate's stem cell legislation. LINK

Sen. Specter said President Bush may receive a personal lobbying phone call from embryonic stem-cell research advocate (and birthday pal) Nancy Reagan, per the Los Angeles Times' Janet Hook. LINK

In other political news delivered with smooth transition, with Ralph Reed's lieutenant governor bid as the big national story, Georgia holds its primary elections. Polls open at 7:00 am ET, close at 7:00 pm ET. LINK (See more below.)

President Bush takes a breather after his trip through Europe. His only scheduled items are morning pictures with the Boy Scouts of America at 9:50 am ET and the winner of the Indianapolis 500 at 10:20 am ET. Also, President and Mrs. Bush plan to participate in a 6:50 pm ET photo opportunity with Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, and Papal Nuncio Pietro Sambi at the White House.

The NAACP's weeklong conference, "Voting Our Values, Valuing Our Votes" continues with morning addresses by Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), and with the possibility looming that the President will address the group on Thursday.

Chairman Chris Shays (R-CT) holds a House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security hearing at 2:00 pm ET to highlight the costs of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) makes a campaign stop at the Post Road Diner in Norwalk, CT at 11:30 am ET.

RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman speaks tonight at "Christians United for Israel" in Washington, DC.

After getting statewide coverage of his not-so-subtle nudge to Vice President Cheney, Gov. Tom Vilsack (D-IA) holds his annual homeland security conference at 4:00 pm ET in Des Moines, IA.

Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) attends a 9:00 pm ET fundraiser for the Washington Senate Democratic Campaign Committee in Seattle, WA.

Govs. Napolitano (D-AZ) and Pawlenty (R-MN) hold a telephonic news conference at 12:15 pm ET to unveil the NGA's report, "Preparing for a Pandemic Influenza: A Primer for Governors and Senior State Officials."

The House Judiciary Committee holds border security hearings to discuss the possible effects of McCain-Kennedy immigration reform. These hearings are a preview of meetings of the House Education and Workforce Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee, both of which will analyze the reforms on Wednesday and Thursday.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) and his Senate Judiciary Committee host Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at 9:30 am ET for testimony on the NSA warrantless wiretapping program and FISA court review, as well as issues such as counterterrorism policy, FBI reforms, and military tribunals.

House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) hosts his weekly pen-and-pad news conference at 11:30 am ET in the Capitol. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) follows Boehner with a similar media exchange at 12:30 pm ET.

Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), John Ensign (R-NV), and Reps. Howard McKeon (R-CA) and Sam Johnson (R-TX) introduce the "America's Opportunity Scholarships for Kids Act" during a 10:30 am ET briefing on the Hill.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), recently dubbed "John McCain-in-waiting" by Bloomberg's Al Hunt, and Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC) discuss the future of hydrogen automobiles at a 10:00 am ET program in the National Press Club.

The Campaign for America's Future along with Reps. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Marion Berry (D-AR), and Darlene Hooley (D-OR) discuss the "donut hole" and propose changes to President Bush's Medicare prescription drug plan at 11:00 am ET on the Hill.

Gov. Pataki (R-NY) plans to appear on Fox News at 12:10 pm ET.

Stem-cell politics:
Even if the likely-to-be-vetoed measure should happen to become law, the New York Times editorial page argues it is in and of itself too limited. LINK

The Los Angeles Times editorial board finds that the Administration's approach to embryonic stem cell research "makes no sense." LINK

The Associated Press on the same: LINK

The AP's Kimberly Hefling Notes Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) might get a little campaign help from his fellow (and more popular) Keystone State Sen. Arlen Specter, with Specter co-sponsoring Santorum's bill that endorses federal funding for research using stem cells derived from sources other than embryos. LINK

President Bush and the NAACP:
The Los Angeles Times' Peter Wallsten writes up President Bush's possible break from his tradition by delivering a speech this Thursday before the NAACP, the last day of the group's annual convention. (Note the NAACP spokesman saying President Bush would receive a "polite" response.) LINK