Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist attempted to get a quick vote on the cord blood measure, which Democrats also support but want to pass simultaneously with the more controversial embryonic stem cell bill.

Frist, a medical doctor who also supports expanded embryonic stem cell research, said the Senate should pass what it can now and debate the more controversial one next year.

"We should do that now because there is so much broad consent on that bill," Frist said.

Hatch, one of the first Republicans to break ranks and support more embryonic stem cell research, called on Democrats to allow a vote on his bill.

"I do not know of one person in this body that is against it," Hatch said on the Senate floor. "I don't know a single person in the House of Representatives that is against it."

Sen. Tom Harkin, a Democrat from Iowa who was in the chamber when Frist brought up the issue, said the two stem cell bills should be debated at the same time.

"These two need to be together like they were in the House," Harkin said, asking Frist to schedule a vote now on the embryonic measure. Frist declined.

The House has passed both stem cell bills and agreed to the different version of the cord blood bill that Hatch is sponsoring.

tburr@sltrib.com