Illinois moves to steal Wisconsin jobs, research

The headline was just to get your attention, and oversimplifies the issue a little, but only a little.

Here are two stories about what states are doing on stem cell research. The Wisconsin Legislature may have the distinction of being farther out on the fringe on the stem cell research issue than anyone else in the country. The latest:

Illinois. Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich signed an executive order on Tuesday making Illinois the fourth state to devote public money to embryonic stem cell research. A state program will distribute $10 million in grants in its first year to seek treatments and cures for conditions like Alzheimer's, spinal cord injuries and heart disease

"It is the necessary and proper role of government to take action when no one else will," Mr. Blagojevich, a Democrat, said at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where he signed the order. "Unfortunately, the federal government has decided to sit on the sidelines." Four years ago, President Bush limited federal financing for stem cell research to existing stem cell lines.

Wisconsin. Anti-cloning legislation passed by the state Assembly last month has triggered a debate over what is more important: Economic development linked to the potential for new cures or ethical concerns over research that uses human embryos.

The debate has pitted Republicans against Republicans and stem cell pioneer James Thomson against Rep. Steve Kestell (R-Elkhart Lake), the lawmaker behind the bill.