By Adam Thompson, Progressive States Network

Opponents of stem cell research are shifting their focus to state houses after President Obama lifted Bush administration restrictions on federal financing for human embryonic stem cell research. The Georgia Senate recently passed a ban on therapeutic cloning and the creation of embryos for any purpose other than procreation.  The Mississippi
House passed a bill to prohibit the University of Mississippi from
using state funds "for research that kills or destroys an existing
human embryo."  And, as the New York Times reports, some states are considering bills that would define an embryo as a person.

Regarding the shift to states, a senior fellow for the conservative Family Research Council said to the Times, "I don't know that we'll have a very big voice" on the federal level.  "The states tend to be a little more fluid."

President Obama's action will allow federal financing of research on
existing and yet-to-be created stem cell lines, so long as federal
money is not used in the creation or destruction of human embryonic
stem cells.  As the New York Times reports, since 1996 Congress's Dickey-Wicker amendment has banned the use of
federal tax dollars to create human embryos or for research in which
embryos are destroyed, discarded or knowingly subjected to risk of
injury.  The Bush Administration policy had allowed tax dollars for
research on a small number of already-created stem cell lines.
 President Obama's rule will greatly expand the availability of
taxpayer supported stem cell research.  Researchers have relied on
private and state sources of funds to create new stem cell lines.
 Whether or not Congress overturns the Dickey-Wicker ban is uncertain,
but it will likely generate a heated debate.

Some states are considering outright bans on embryonic stem cell research, such as Oklahoma where the House passed a bill that would make the research illegal, as Reuters reports. A Texas bill would ban the use of state funds for stem cell research, and Arizona and Louisiana have laws severely limiting stem cell research.

The Georgia bill, which is less restrictive than some of these other
state bans, is still problematic to many in the business, research, and
health communities.  According to the Times,
Georgia has worked in recent years to develop a fertile biotechnology
business environment and a trade group sees Senate passage as a barrier
to efforts to recruit out of state businesses.  Researchers, patient
groups and policymakers support the research because many believe stem
cell research holds the key to treating Alzheimer's disease, spinal
cord injuries, and other chronic illnesses.(Image of human embryonic stem cell colony from the National Institutes of Health)