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LOS ANGELES - The chairman of the state stem cell agency's oversight board rejected every point in a petition seeking more open meetings, stricter conflict-of-interest rules and salary caps at California's new research institute.
But with pressure mounting in the Legislature and the courts to address these issues, the chairman said Monday the panel would hold hearings seeking a wide range of views on each issue - rather than limiting itself to the petitioners' views.
"These are important issues which we have set up public hearings to address," Chairman Robert Klein II said. "But to make a deal with a special interest group is not consistent with the interests of the public in having a full public hearing of these issues."
Klein was one of the authors of Proposition 71, the initiative voters approved in November to create California's $3 billion stem cell research program.
The oversight board voted to give him the power to respond to the petition at its last meeting.
Charles Halpern, the public interest lawyer who filed the petition along with former U.S. Assistant Secretary of...
But with pressure mounting in the Legislature and the courts to address these issues, the chairman said Monday the panel would hold hearings seeking a wide range of views on each issue - rather than limiting itself to the petitioners' views.
"These are important issues which we have set up public hearings to address," Chairman Robert Klein II said. "But to make a deal with a special interest group is not consistent with the interests of the public in having a full public hearing of these issues."
Klein was one of the authors of Proposition 71, the initiative voters approved in November to create California's $3 billion stem cell research program.
The oversight board voted to give him the power to respond to the petition at its last meeting.
Charles Halpern, the public interest lawyer who filed the petition along with former U.S. Assistant Secretary of...