CGS-authored
Senate can help reform stem cell program
California's Senate now has the choice of killing or saving a measure to provide some accountability over the state's $3 billion stem cell research institute.
If SCA 13 goes to the grave this week, remember these two names: Sens. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, and Joe Dunn, D-Santa Ana.
Dunn and Speier have built their reputations on consumer protection, accessible health care and open government. But Monday, they blatantly pandered to stem cell czar Robert Klein II, who orchestrated a lobbying campaign Monday against Sen. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento, and her SCA 13 measure.
Ortiz's measure, among other things, would guard against public funds going to companies that secretly set up consulting and stock deals with scientists who recommend the funding.
This is not just an abstract concern.
As Dunn knows, the energy giant Enron secretly paid researchers at Harvard to churn out reports extolling the deregulation scheme that California ultimately adopted. Those conflicts came to light only after California became mired in an energy crisis Enron helped create.
Sadly, neither Speier nor Dunn had a...
California's Senate now has the choice of killing or saving a measure to provide some accountability over the state's $3 billion stem cell research institute.
If SCA 13 goes to the grave this week, remember these two names: Sens. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, and Joe Dunn, D-Santa Ana.
Dunn and Speier have built their reputations on consumer protection, accessible health care and open government. But Monday, they blatantly pandered to stem cell czar Robert Klein II, who orchestrated a lobbying campaign Monday against Sen. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento, and her SCA 13 measure.
Ortiz's measure, among other things, would guard against public funds going to companies that secretly set up consulting and stock deals with scientists who recommend the funding.
This is not just an abstract concern.
As Dunn knows, the energy giant Enron secretly paid researchers at Harvard to churn out reports extolling the deregulation scheme that California ultimately adopted. Those conflicts came to light only after California became mired in an energy crisis Enron helped create.
Sadly, neither Speier nor Dunn had a...