A growing number of states are creating programs to aid human embryonic stem cell research in the absence of congressional support for the promising but controversial work. Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich, a Republican, signed a bill Thursday to spend $15 million for stem cell research. Maryland is the fifth state since 2004 to approve spending taxpayer money on such research. California, Connecticut, Illinois and New Jersey also have approved state-funded research programs. At least four other states are debating bills or ballot initiatives to promote stem cell research, says Alissa Johnson of the National Conference of State Legislatures.
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