Stem Cell Gold Rush: Who Could Object?

For those interested in following the course of the stem cell research "gold rush" among states, I came across this website.  I did not realize that Maryland and Illinois are also well along the path toward funding embryonic stem cell research.  The debate occurring in the Illinois legislature lends some insight:

A Senate committee voted 7-4 to approve legislation Thursday that would put Illinois at the nation's forefront of stem-cell research.  The $1 billion proposal, an initiative of state comptroller Dan Hynes, would position Illinois only behind California in terms of funding for stem-cell studies. . . .

[Senator] Syverson also questioned whether Illinois would own the patent rights to cures researchers might discover while using state funds.

Hynes . . . assured the committee that all grant recipients would be signing patent and intellectual property agreements where the state would be sharing royalties.

If the measure is approved by both legislative chambers and the governor, a 2006 statewide referendum would ask voters to approve $1 billion bond issuance to fund the institute.

The proposal's sponsor, state Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, D-Evanston, said he's confident voters would support the measure because everyone has a loved one, neighbor or co-worker who suffers from a debilitating disease.

Right there we know all we need to know about the future prospects of embryonic stem cell research.  Who could possibly object to alleviating the suffering of our loved ones, especially when the patent-driven income stream is so tantalizing? 

Rob