President Obama is set to issue an executive order this Monday that would reverse the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
This move doesn't really come as a big shock to proponents or opponents of embryonic stem cell research, since it was one of his campaign promises. If anything, the fact that it's taken him so long to issue the order is the bigger surprise. Of course, the expectation of this executive order doesn't necessarily soften the sting for many social conservatives.
The White House has been very vocal about wanting to reach across ideological lines and listen to all points of view, but many social conservatives haven't been exactly thrilled with many of the president's objectives so far. Restoring federal funding for groups that provide abortion services overseas by overturning the Mexico City Policy/ Global Gag Rule didn't exactly endear Obama to this group, and this upcoming action probably won't help him mend fences.
Even after this funding is restored, federal dollars cannot be spent to create embryos explicitly for the purpose of scientific research. Instead, the funding can be used to research embryos that were already created with the intent of developing into human life, such as in the case of in vitro fertilization.
Those who oppose embryonic stem cell research see the use of these embryos for scientific purposes, rather than implanting them in a woman's uterus, as destroying human life. Former President George W. Bush, who banned federal funding for embryonic stem cell research in 2001, had several events inviting children conceived from these frozen embryos, aka "snowflake babies" to the White House during his tenure.
In contrast, for the nearly three fourths of the country that supports embryonic stem cell research, according to a 2008 Time Poll, embryonic stem cell research presents many promising opportunities for scientific discoveries, and could hold cures for many genetic diseases. They hope opening up these stem cell lines will provide several medical breakthroughs, and the increased federal funding could go a long way towards advancing scientific discoveries.
We'll know more details when the president makes the official announcement on Monday, but this discussion will probably continue for a while. Congress is expected to pass additional legislation that would prevent any future bans on embryonic stem cell research later this year.