Cook County, Ill., Judge James Henry on Wednesday ruled against a lawsuit alleging that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) had overstepped his authority when he signed an executive order issuing $10 million in grants for stem cell research, the AP/Belleville News-Democrat reports (AP/Belleville News-Democrat, 5/10). Blagojevich in July 2005 signed an executive order that directed $10 million in state funding for stem cell research and established the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute, which the state Department of Public Health oversees, to distribute grants for stem cell research in the state. The program allows research on human embryonic, adult and cord blood stem cell lines but will not fund research that involves human cloning, human tissue that was bought or sold for research or tissue from aborted embryos or fetuses. Blagojevich in April announced grant recipients for $10 million in state funding for stem cell research projects, up to one-fifth of which can be used for human embryonic stem cell research (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy, 4/26). Blagojevich said in a statement that he agrees with the decision, adding, "Stem cell research is considered by the medical and scientific community to offer some of the greatest hope for finding cures and treatments for debilitating and life-threatening conditions." Richard Caro, an attorney who filed the lawsuit last month, said he plans to appeal, and that he would like to have a ruling before the fiscal year ends on June 30 (AP/Belleville News-Democrat, 5/10).

AP/Chicago Sun-Times Examines Blagojevich's Executive Orders
The AP/Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday examined Blagojevich's executive orders on various issues, including one that requires that pharmacists provide emergency contraception -- which can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 72 hours after sexual intercourse -- and one that funds embryonic stem cell research. Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers have criticized Blagojevich for issuing executive orders as a way to avoid the legislative process and public debate on controversial issues, the AP/Chicago Sun-Times reports. Blagojevich said, "If you believe in something and you think it's right, if there's a way to do it, you ought to get it done and not mess around," adding, "When we tried to pass [the measures] with the [state] Legislature, we couldn't do it" (Keith, AP/Chicago Sun-Times, 5/10).

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