Bush should get ahead of the stem-cell gold rush.

Californians voted in November to pour $300 million a year for a decade into embryonic stem-cell research, in hopes of finding treatments or cures for a variety of diseases. The state will become the global center for such advanced research. Wisconsin and New Jersey are also investing money in the industry. This state activity tells us that the stem-cell controversy is being leapfrogged, and that such research is openly under way. [Contrary to perception, stem-cell research has not been federally banned, only restricted.] This troubles people who fear it will lead to attempts to clone humans. But a majority of Americans come down on the side of running that danger in the hope of finding cures. I'm with the hopers, and hope President Bush opens his mind to it. If not, the U.S. will face state-by-state, privately supported competition to determine guidelines for ethical stem-cell research. Bush and Congress should get out in front of California's stem-cell gold rush.