CA, IL: State Aid for Stem Cell Work After Bush Veto

State leaders, including a number of Republicans, have denounced Bush's veto of expanded funding for stem cell research and California and Illinois have already stepped up with their own funding to provide grants for the work.

In other states like Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri and Tennesee, it has become an election year issue in both primaries and upcoming general elections. And a ballot initiative in Missouri to support stem cell research has highlighted divisions over the issue between incumbent Senator Jim Talent and challenger Claire McCaskill.

Five states have already approved new legislation to fund stem cell research and other states are studying the issue. Many worry that with bioscience likely to drive new high-tech industries, states that fail to fund stem cell research may see scientists and bioscience startups migrating to those states that do.