CGS-authored
Two months ago, this page provided leaders of California's $3 billion stem cell institute with a map for heading off legislative intervention. They ignored such advice. Now they are paying for it.
On Thursday, the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee approved Sen. Deborah Ortiz's measure to reform Proposition 71, which created the institute. The full Senate will soon take up her measure, possibly Tuesday.
Every state taxpayer should closely watch the outcome. Stem cell research holds enormous promise, but Proposition 71 includes inadequate guarantees that the $3 billion won't be funneled to certain universities, corporate interests and advocacy groups that helped pass the ballot measure.
Robert Klein II, who wrote Proposition 71 and now heads the institute, complains the Senate hasn't given him a proper hearing. That claim is disingenuous. As we noted on March 18, Ortiz invited Klein to appear before the Senate Health Committee. He backed out as his supporters lobbied senators to cancel the hearing. The tactic backfired. Legislators were outraged by this high-handed treatment.
Institute leaders could make this problem go away by focusing on a few...
On Thursday, the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee approved Sen. Deborah Ortiz's measure to reform Proposition 71, which created the institute. The full Senate will soon take up her measure, possibly Tuesday.
Every state taxpayer should closely watch the outcome. Stem cell research holds enormous promise, but Proposition 71 includes inadequate guarantees that the $3 billion won't be funneled to certain universities, corporate interests and advocacy groups that helped pass the ballot measure.
Robert Klein II, who wrote Proposition 71 and now heads the institute, complains the Senate hasn't given him a proper hearing. That claim is disingenuous. As we noted on March 18, Ortiz invited Klein to appear before the Senate Health Committee. He backed out as his supporters lobbied senators to cancel the hearing. The tactic backfired. Legislators were outraged by this high-handed treatment.
Institute leaders could make this problem go away by focusing on a few...