Free Republic

Science: Supporters of California's failed 2004 stem-cell law will ask strapped taxpayers to support another $3 billion bond initiative in 2014. Maybe it's time to restore fiscal sanity as well as science to its rightful place. When it was passed in 2004, Proposition 71, with its $3 billion state fund and 10-year mandate for embryonic stem-cell research (ESCR), held out the promise of imminent miracle cures for everything from spinal disorders to Parkinson's. One campaign ad showed actor Christopher Reeve, aka Superman, asking California voters to "stand up for those who can't." Some six years later, with about $1.1 billion...

After six years, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has faced questions about leaders' pay and the lack of medical breakthroughs. But its chairman plans to ask voters for another $3 billion in bonds. When millionaire Silicon Valley real estate developer Bob Klein launched his ballot drive to create a $3-billion state fund for stem-cell research in 2004, he pitched it as a way of taking politics out of science and focusing on cures. One particularly heartbreaking campaign ad showed former big screen Superman Christopher Reeve paralyzed in a wheelchair, struggling for breath and imploring California voters to "stand up...

HAYWARD — California's $3 billion, voter-approved stem cell institute went on trial Monday as opponents sought to invalidate the program on grounds that it operates outside state control. The institute violates conflict of interest rules governing state agencies and its officials are not acting in the best interest of taxpayers, attorneys representing taxpayer groups said in opening statements in Alameda County Superior Court. "This agency as it is currently created is not responsive to the people," said David Llewellyn, attorney for the California Family Bioethics Council, one of the groups bringing the suit. Voters in November 2004 approved Proposition 71,...

California's Proposition 71 program was intended to create a $3 billion West Coast counterpart to the National Institutes of Health empowered to go where the NIH could not: full steam into the new field of biomedical research centered on human embryonic stem cells. Instead, the program has gotten stuck in a seemingly endless legal morass. Although state officials say they are optimistic about their chances in court, it's expected that the program will take at least 15 more months to slog through appeals and start issuing the first major grants. Meanwhile, revelations of faked cloning research in South Korea have...

What's the difference between the Paul Wellstone funeral and a performance by Margaret Cho, comedian? In parts, the Wellstone funeral was funny. And no, I don't say that because I'm a conservative and Cho is a... well, what? Calling her a communist implies that there is a coherent ideology in her routine -- that she has a plan, a vision that propels her rage. But Cho is the absolute final, exhausted point of liberalism, its cold, bitter dead end -- a resentful, repetitive death rattle. Cho is fueled by hatred of everything conservative. It's a mystery what she actually believes...

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco officials were elated that the city beat out 16 other California cities to become the headquarters of the new $3-billion, state-funded stem cell institute. But their elation was tempered by news that litigation is blocking bonds from being issued to fund the institute. A motion filed by a pro-life advocacy group on behalf of two successful tax limitation citizen groups could stall or even stop the money from being given out. The motion, filed by Life Legal Defense Foundation April 6 on behalf of People's Advocate and the National Tax Limitation Foundation, contended it is...

City's third-place ranking upsets business boosters San Diego was selected as one of four finalists in the competition to become home to California's new stem cell institute, but its proposal placed third in a preliminary ranking of the contenders. A six-member team that reviewed 10 proposals submitted for the site of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine ranked San Francisco as the best location, followed by Sacramento, San Diego and Emeryville. Although the ranking might not play into the final site selection, which is expected to be announced at a meeting May 6, San Diego's placement had local business boosters...

Robert Klein might not have all the answers when it comes to stem cell research; he can’t guarantee the timely production of any cures or miraculous treatments. He can’t guarantee that stem cells will yield anything positive. --snip-- The Palo Alto millionaire has a 14-year-old son, Jordan, who suffers from juvenile diabetes. Hoping stem cell research could produce a cure, Klein sunk $3 million of personal money into Proposition 71, and spearheaded the initiative’s fund raising drive. Klein ultimately raised $25 million to support the proposition to squash the opposition. --snip-- Klein was the only nominee for the position, having...