No Final Decision Yet On Reversal Of Bush Executive Orders, Obama Team Says

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 13 Nov 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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President-elect Barack Obama's transition team on Monday issued a statement emphasizing that he has not yet made final plans on whether he will reverse executive orders issued by President Bush, including policies on embryonic stem cell research, Reuters reports. Obama spokesperson Stephanie Cutter said he "will honor the commitment he made during the campaign to review all executive orders, but this process has not yet begun and no decisions have been made." According to Reuters, advocates of embryonic stem cell research are "eagerly awaiting" the reversal of an executive order issued by Bush that bans federal funding for embryonic stem cell research conducted on lines created after Aug. 9, 2001. The Bush White House, however, maintains that strict limits on embryonic stem cell research have led to breakthroughs in research of adult stem cells.

Cutter added that Obama plans to discuss the reversal of any executive orders with members of both political parties and members of his Cabinet, who have not been selected. "The president-elect has pledged to run an open and inclusive government," she said, adding that "before he makes any decisions on potential executive or legislative actions, he will be conferring with congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle, as well as interested groups" (Holland, Reuters, 11/10).

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