Aggregated News
Prop. 71 challenges may hold up grants, the attorney general says.
LOS ANGELES - California's new stem cell research program can't sell bonds or issue grants until two lawsuits challenging its constitutionality are resolved, the state attorney general told the California Supreme Court on Monday.
In briefs filed Monday, the state admitted for the first time that the constitutional challenges could halt an ambitious plan to issue the first grants in May under the stem cell research initiative voters approved in November.
The attorney general - arguing on behalf of the stem cell agency, its board and several elected officials - said the constitutional challenges had "no merits." But the state's lawyers urged the justices to act quickly so California could begin issuing the first of the $3 billion in stem cell research bonds authorized by Proposition 71.
"Because Proposition 71 is funded exclusively by bond proceeds, blocking issuance of the bonds by filing a constitutional challenge - even a challenge that is ultimately judged to be without merit - is an extremely effective way to prevent implementation of Proposition...
LOS ANGELES - California's new stem cell research program can't sell bonds or issue grants until two lawsuits challenging its constitutionality are resolved, the state attorney general told the California Supreme Court on Monday.
In briefs filed Monday, the state admitted for the first time that the constitutional challenges could halt an ambitious plan to issue the first grants in May under the stem cell research initiative voters approved in November.
The attorney general - arguing on behalf of the stem cell agency, its board and several elected officials - said the constitutional challenges had "no merits." But the state's lawyers urged the justices to act quickly so California could begin issuing the first of the $3 billion in stem cell research bonds authorized by Proposition 71.
"Because Proposition 71 is funded exclusively by bond proceeds, blocking issuance of the bonds by filing a constitutional challenge - even a challenge that is ultimately judged to be without merit - is an extremely effective way to prevent implementation of Proposition...