Stem Cell Stand

The Associated Press reports today that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has signed an executive order earmarking $10 million in tax dollars for stem cell research. Blagojevich cited his moral obligation to "not simply sit back and do nothing when children are suffering from juvenile diabetes" as part of the reason behind the move.

The Illinois State Legislature has debated the use of state funds for adult, umbilical cord blood, and embryonic stem cells in the past. A federal executive order issued by President Bush in 2001 currently bans the use of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research on cell lines derived after September 9, 2001, although proposed changes to relax this legislation are now before the Senate.

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