Passage of the anti-abortion legislation during the special session clears the way for a full-blown legislative effort next year to ban stem cell research in Missouri. Anti-abortion bills got mired in the stem cell debate last spring, leading to no resolution of either issue. But those anti-abortion bills are now law. Senate Leader Michael Gibbons of Kirkwood says a stem-cell research ban is an issue with fervent advocates and fervent opponents and most lawmakers caught in the middle. He says the Legislature should deal with the issue. He hopes, somehow, to reach some consensus. Governor Matt Blunt already has said he will not support a total stem cell research ban.
