Chicago, Ill., Sep 21, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Pro-life leaders in Illinois are outraged that Gov. Rod Blagojevich "thwarted the democratic process" and authorized the creation of a medical institute that would conduct embryonic stem-cell research.
This action makes Illinois the fourth state in the nation-after California, Connecticut and New Jersey-to establish a stem-cell research facility, but it’s the first to do so without input from the public, reported the Catholic Explorer.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich superseded the General Assembly July 12 by initiating an executive order to create the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute, which would conduct research involving all forms of stem cells, including from adults, umbilical cord blood and embryos. The institute is expected to open by December.
Taxpayers were told at a Chicago press conference that $10 million of public funds would be invested as a start-up cost for the institute. Details about ongoing funding, fiscal accountability and research methodology have not yet been disclosed.