I don't know why, but this whole stem cell issue really irks me.
I guess its the underlying assumption that medical advances can't possibly happen without government funding of the research.
There is a huge difference between stem cell and embryonic cell research! Not long after Nancy Reagan spoke about this (right before RR died), a massive research study result indicated that there was no path that this type of research will do Alzheimer patients any good. It is just another way to legitimize abortion in this country!!
From what I understand, the private sector is not funding embryonic stem cell research because it is so unstable. It's the adult stem cell reserach that is promising and that IS attracting private money.