While the Executive Orders to end torture, to shut down Guantanamo Bay, and the rejection George Bush's abortion-funding policy was more than welcome, President Obama still hasn't acted to reverse Bush's limits on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
According to a White House pool report, the question was raised yesterday by Rep. Jim Langevin, a paraplegic and stem cell research advocate. It is reported that Obama said:
"I guarantee you that we will sign an executive order for stem cells" but that he wants to work with the House and Senate to make the order solid. "God gave us (the) power to make smart decisions , to cure diseases, to alleviate suffering."
Obviously it is important to have such a policy enacted into law so some future president doesn't once again put ideology over science, but an Executive Order on this from President Obama is long overdue.