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Boston.com / News / Local / Mass. / Panel expected to release stem cell bill: "NEW ENGLAND IN BRIEF
Panel expected to release stem cell bill

April 20, 2005

The Legislature's negotiated version of the stem cell bill should be presented to lawmakers later this week, Senate President Robert E. Travaglini said yesterday. A House-Senate conference committee is expected to complete its work by Friday, Travaglini said. The conference committee measure must be approved again by the House and Senate before it is sent to Governor Mitt Romney. Last month, the two legislative bodies passed slightly different versions of the bill that would authorize embryonic stem cell research and ban human cloning. A committee of six lawmakers was then set up to hash out a compromise bill. The governor is expected to veto the bill, which he called radical, because it allows for a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer. A two-thirds majority of the House and Senate would be needed to override a veto."