Undeterred, the Utah Republican asked for more time, hoping to finish two more pages within the next five minutes. There were still 10 paragraphs left when those 300 seconds ran out. It was Hatch against the clock, and the clock won.

In many ways, it summed up the matter at hand.

Hatch was arguing the same case he has for years: that the expansion of embryonic stem cell research would benefit thousands, if not millions of people. Thus far it's been a losing battle, and even with more time, the issue hasn't progressed much further.

The Senate, for a second time, passed a bill on Wednesday to expand the embryonic stem cell research. The House also passed the legislation like it did last year, but also like last year, President Bush's veto pen awaits.

That didn't stop Hatch from taking 25 minutes on the Senate floor to point out how the research would boost scientific research and may ultimately find cures for a variety of maladies and diseases. His speech, while stuffed with fresh language, carried the same theme from a dozen some talks he has given on the subject in recent years.

On Wednesday, Hatch was still pressing the case, even with a row of speakers in his own party who argued that embryonic stem cell research destroys potential human life and is not as promising as its supporters make it out to be.

"There are tremendous breakthroughs with adult stem cells," Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said just minutes before Hatch.

Hatch countered those speaking against the embryonic stem cell expansion with a giant blue sign emblazoned with a letter from Nancy Reagan that he frequently cites.

"For those who are waiting every day for scientific progress to help their loved ones, the wait for the United States Senate action has been very difficult and hard to comprehend," the former first lady wrote to Hatch last year.

At the microphone, Hatch, in a dark suit, blue striped shirt and purple tie, laid out several reasons embryonic stem cell research is akin to the space program. Launching man into space has "yielded wonders beyond anything we could have imagined," he said.

"As a science, embryonic stem cell research today is where the space program was when we first dreamed of it," Hatch added.

But at least for the time being, it looks like the stem cell space shuttle will stay on the ground. The Senate failed to pass the measure with a veto-proof majority. And even if the chamber had secured the required 67 votes, the House didn't have enough votes to override Bush's veto.

Utah's other senator, Bob Bennett, voted for the legislation. Hatch and Bennett also voted for so-called compromise legislation that would allow scientists to cull stem cells from "naturally dead" embryos. That bill passed by a 70-28 margin.

tburr@sltrib.com