The Democratic-controlled Congress passed legislation Thursday to loosen restraints on federally funded embryonic stem cell research, but the bill’s supporters lacked the votes needed to override President Bush’s threatened veto.

In a 247-176 vote, the House approved legislation for the federal government to fund research on stem cells taken from spare embryos that fertility clinics would otherwise discard. The legislation was approved in April by the Senate.

Congressman Patrick Murphy, D-8, voted for Thursday’s bill and said federal funding for the research could lead to cures for diseases of millions of Americans.

However, advocates anticipate that Bush will carry through on his threat and that both houses of Congress will be unable to muster the two-thirds majorities needed to override his veto. That, they believe, will make stem cell research a major issue in the 2008 presidential and congressional elections.

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