Nov. 10 (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Barack Obama's staff is taking an ``across-the-board'' look at Bush administration actions and executive orders that Obama may reverse upon taking office, said John Podesta, head of Obama's transition team.

The potential policy reversals include measures taken by President George W. Bush on climate change, stem-cell research, reproductive rights and oil and gas drilling on federal lands.

``I'm not going to preview decisions that he has yet to make,'' Podesta said ``But I would say that as a candidate, Senator Obama said that he wanted all the Bush executive orders reviewed, and decide which ones should be kept, and which ones should be repealed, and which ones should be amended.''

Among the first orders to be reversed may be two that Bush signed shortly after taking office in 2001. One of those barred the use of U.S. funds by family planning groups overseas that provide abortion counseling. Critics call the policy a ``gag rule'' and say it hampers medical care.

Another is the limit on federal funding for embryonic stem- cell research, a restriction that some scientists say hampers study to combat diseases such as Parkinson's. Obama, like many Democrats and some Republicans in Congress, backs funding such research.

President's Prerogative

Such a review by the president-elect's transition team isn't surprising, said Bush's spokeswoman, Dana Perino.

``Every president has the prerogative to change policies; that's nothing unusual,'' Perino said today at her daily briefing.

Obama arrived at the White House this afternoon for a tour of the executive mansion and a private meeting with Bush.

Podesta, a former chief of staff in the Clinton White House, spoke on Fox News Sunday and said some of Bush's policy moves, such as on stem-cell research funding and opening more federal land to energy exploration, are ``probably not in interest of the country.''

``They want to have oil and gas drilling in some of the most sensitive, fragile lands in Utah that they're going to try to do right as they -- walking out the door. I think that's a mistake,'' Podesta said.

The administrative actions can have an impact on companies.

A reversal on drilling could interrupt Denver-based Bill Barrett Corp.'s plans to sink wells and expand natural-gas production at the West Tavaputs field in Utah. The company said last week that it expects final regulatory approval for the project by the end of January.

Stem Cell Research

Trading in Palo Alto, California-based StemCells Inc. rose as much as 42 percent on reports that Obama may reverse the ban on federal funding for research.

StemCells doesn't use embryonic stem cells, according to a filing in August with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Still, the filing said ``existing and potential'' restrictions on using embryonic stem cells can make it harder to attract scientific talent. Concern about further regulation could hurt the ability to find collaborators and investors.

Susan F. Wood, co-chairman of Obama's advisory committee for women's health, said the president-elect also plans on reversing a policy that linked assistance for combating AIDS in the developing world to requirements that health workers emphasize monogamy and abstinence from sex over condom use.

On climate change and pollution, Obama previously has stated his opposition to the administration's action that blocked California from regulating carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles.

Obama will be inaugurated on Jan. 20. Podesta suggested that he may act quickly.

``There's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action,'' Podesta said.

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Last Updated: November 10, 2008 13:59 EST