CGS's campaign website opposing Proposition 71
Archived campaign webpage
The Center for Genetics and Society opposed Proposition 71, the "California Stem Cell Research Initiative" on the November 2 ballot. It grants control over a huge allocation of public funds for controversial research to a particular set of interested parties insulated from public accountability. While we believe that appropriately regulated embryonic stem cell research should be supported, a close analysis of Proposition 71 raises an array of concerns.
The measure:
authorizes $3 billion in tax-supported bonds to fund stem cell research, explicitly including the use of somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning) techniques;
amends the state constitution to establish a "California Institute for Regenerative Medicine" to administer these funds;
amends the state constitution to include a "right to conduct stem cell research."
Contents and links
Summary of the Center's concerns
CGS assessment of the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act
Center for Genetics and Society news releases
Pro-choice, progressive and liberal voices and concerns
Newspaper editorials and organizational positions
Background on the technologies
Summary of the Center's concerns
1. Proposition 71 amends the California state constitution to include a "right to conduct stem cell research" - a sort of "right" which is very different from the kinds of fundamental public protections that state constitutions are meant to provide.
2. Proposition 71 vests control of the $3 billion of public funds in a new "Institute for Regenerative Medicine" controlled by a governing body dominated by people who are part of or close to the institutions and companies that will benefit from the funds.
3. Although embryonic stem cell research is one of many types of biomedical research worthy of public funding, it is difficult to justify a state committing $300 million a year for ten years to this single area of research, with no ability to reevaluate if the research results are not as promising as scientists now hope.
4. Proposition 71 specifies that the Institute it establishes sets its own rules, thus exempting it from oversight by elected officials and from a body of state and federal regulations, including those that address informed consent and protection of research subjects.
5. Proposition 71 endorses and prioritizes somatic cell nuclear transfer, or research cloning, but provides no meaningful oversight and control of this work.
6. Proposition 71's appeal is based in large part on its promise of likely treatments and cures for a wide range of diseases. This prospect has generated great hope, but is difficult to evaluate because the research is at a very early stage.
Center for Genetics and Society news releases
Press conference: Pro-choice opposition to Proposition 71(October 27, 2004)
Pro-Choice Concerns About Calif. Stem Cell Initiative Grow (October 5 , 2004)
The California Stem Cell Initiative (September 24, 2004)
California information on Proposition 71 from the Secretary of State and Legislative Analyst's Office
Voter pamphlet (includes title and summary, legislative analysis, and arguments and rebuttals) [PDF]
Text of Proposed Law [PDF]
An Overview of State Bond Debt Prepared by the Legislative Analyst's Office (July 2004)
Pro-Choice Alliance Against Proposition 71
http://www.allianceagainstprop71.org
"California Nurses' Association Opposes Prop. 71"
http://cna.igc.org/cna/press/
- View the California Nurses' Association ad
Doctors, Patients and Taxpayers for Fiscal Responsibility
http://www.noon71.org/
Californians for Stem Cell Research and Cures
http://www.yeson71.org/
- Peter Schrag , "Tuesday's initiatives: Another shackle on government", Sacramento Bee (November 1, 2004)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/columns/
schrag/story/11229893p-12145506c.html - Andro Hsu, "A Biologist’s Dilemma," The Daily Californian (October 27, 2004)
http://www.dailycal.org/article.php?id=16693 - Mitch Kapor, "For stem cell research, against Proposition 71" (October 25, 2004)
http://sapventures.typepad.com/main/2004/10/another_leader_.html - Winnie Comstock-Carlson, "Stem Cell Cures versus Taxpayer-Funded
Biotech Windfall," Comstock's Business (November 2004)
http://www.comstocksbusiness.com/plccr.htm - Daniel Sarewitz, "Stepping Out of Line in Stem Cell Research," Los Angeles Times (October 25, 2004)
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/
opinion/la-oe-sarewitz25oct25,1,5419276,print.story - Dan Gillmor, "Some thoughts on California's propositions," San Jose Mercury News (October 24, 2004)
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/10003162.htm - Daniel Callahan, "Proposition 71: Combining hope, hype and hucksterism," San Diego Union Tribune (October 22, 2004)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041022/news_z1e22callaha.html - Ellen Goodman, "Weird Science: California stem cell proposition is risky end run on flawed Bush compromise," Wahington Post Writers Group (October 22, 2004)
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=17947 - N. Davis, "The Problems With Prop 71," AlwaysOn Network (October 20, 2004)
http://www.alwayson-network.com/comments.php?id=6577_0_5_0_C - David Winickoff, "Prop. 71 a risky experiment in squandering public monies," San Francisco Chronicle (October 17, 2004)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?
file=/chronicle/archive/2004/10/17/ING9T995C41.DTL - Dan Walters, "Narrow-interest bond, tax measures have a very long history," Sacramento Bee (October 14, 2004)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/11133308p-12049738c.html - Michael Cook, "No doubting Reeve's courage, but question his convictions," The Age (October 14, 2004)
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/13/1097607294194.html?oneclick=true - Scott Herhold, "Proposition 71 wrong way to pay for stem cell research," San Jose Mercury News (October 7, 2004)
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/9857039.htm - Richard Sams, "Prop. 71 would fund wrong research," North County Times (October 6, 2004)
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/10/06/opinion/20_27_3710_5_04.txt - Peter Schrag, "Coming on Nov. 2 ballot: A lot more of the same," Sacramento Bee (September 29, 2004)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/10912786p-11830290c.html - Robert B. Lawton, "Prop. 71 poses big questions," San Jose Mercury News (September 29, 2004)
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/9787848.htm - Marcy Darnovsky and Bill McKibben, "Will Our Children Be Genetically Modified?" forum (September 28, 2004, as broadcast on Sunday Salon, KPFA, October 17) [MP3 audio]
https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/multi-media/bill-mckibben-interviewed-marcy-darnovsky - Jim Trageser, "Stem cell initiative financiers meet little scrutiny," North County TImes (September 24, 2004)
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/09/24/
news/columnists/trageser/20_57_479_23_04.txt - Peter Schrag, "Stem cells, slick sells and other political soft soap," Sacramento Bee (September 1, 2004)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/
v-print/story/10587306p-11506166c.html - Tina Stevens, "What we should know (and almost didn't)," San Francisco Chronicle (August 29, 2004)
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/
2004/08/29/EDGMQ8F9VH1.DTL&type=printable - Michael Hiltzik, "Benefits of Stem Cell Bond Issue in Question," Los Angeles Times (August 23, 2004)
Resources >> Items >> "Benefits of Stem Cell Bond Issue in Question" - William Saletan, "Revelation of the Nerds: The religion of stem-cell research," Slate (August 10, 2004)
http://slate.msn.com/id/2104983/ - Nigel M. de S. Cameron and Jennifer Lahl, "Legislating Medicine: California's bizarre cloning proposition," San Francisco Chronicle (July 11, 2004)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?
file=/chronicle/archive/2004/07/11/EDGD56N5SB1.DTL - David S. Broder, "A Bipartisan Push on Stem Cell Studies," The Washington Post (June 3, 2004)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/
A11252-2004Jun2?language=printer
Newspaper editorials and organizational positions
- "Opinion of The Tribune: No on 71," San Luis Obispo Tribune (October 22, 2004)
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/living/9986503.htm - "Vote no Prop. 71," Los Angeles Daily News (October 20, 2004)
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20951~2478522,00.html - "Stem Cell Envy," The Oregonian (October 20, 2004)
http://www.oregonlive.com/editorials/oregonian/
index.ssf?/base/editorial/1098273499116630.xml - "Yes 61; no 71," Riverside Press-Enterprise (October 19, 2004)
http://www.pe.com/elections/2004/november/opinion/
stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_op_19_ed_props61-71.e6d1.html - "State should not be in bio research," Tulare Advance-Register (October 19, 2004)
http://www.tulareadvanceregister.com/news/
stories/20041019/opinion/1442022.html - "Ballot box budgeting? Yes & no (No on 71)," Sonoma Index Tribune (October 15, 2004)
http://www.sonomanews.com/articles/2004/10/15/
news/editorial_and_letters/letter01.txt - "CRG Position on California's Stem Cell Research Initiative (Proposition 71)," Council for Responsible Genetics (October 14, 2004)
http://www.gene-watch.org/programs/cloning/prop71.html - "Endorsements: No on Proposition 71," San Francisco Bay Guardian (October 13, 2004)
http://www.sfbg.com/39/02/news_endorsements.html - "Fund research another way," Pasadena Star News and San Gabriel Valley Tribune (October 13, 2004)
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206~11851~2465564,00.html - "State cannot afford stem cell bond issue," Redding Record Searchlight (October 11, 2004)
http://www.redding.com/redd/op_editorials/ article/
0,2232,REDD_18098_3241458,00.html - "Proposition 71:Huge bond not the way to fund stem-cell research," San Bernardino Sun (October 10, 2004)
http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208%257E12585%257E2458935,00.html - California Nurses Association, "California Nurses Association Opposes Prop. 71" (October 5, 2004)
http://cna.igc.org/cna/press/ - "Bond to fund stem cell research a bad idea," Orange County Register (October 4, 2004)
http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2004/10/05/sections/
commentary/Election%202004/article_260879.php - "No on Prop. 71," Fresno Bee and Modesto Bee (September 30, 2004)
http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/story/9214321p-10114935c.html - "Our View: Stem cells merit research, but not Prop. 71," North County Times (September 29, 2004)
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/09/30/opinion/editorials/21_23_189_29_04.txt - Troy May, "BayBio adopts neutral stance on stem cell bond initiative," Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal (September 27, 2004)
http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2004/09/27/story7.html - "No on Props. 61, 71," San Diego Union Tribune (September 23, 2004)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040923/news_lz1ed23bottom.html - "Editorial: No on Proposition 71—Fund stem cell research, but by normal process," Sacramento Bee (September 22, 2004)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/10831560p-11749478c.html - "Prop. 71 will shut out other priorities, " Merced Sun-Star (September 18, 2004)
http://www.mercedsun-star.com/opinion/story/9171827p-10071341c.html - "No on 71: How ballot-box budgeting is bankrupting California," Santa Rosa Press Democrat (September 18, 2004)
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20040918/NEWS/409180349/1043/OPINION0101
- Kristen Philipkoski, "Show Time for Stem-Cell Science," Wired (November 10, 2004)
http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,65664,00.html - Lisa M. Krieger, "Experts discuss Prop. 71 ethics," San Jose Mercury News (November 10, 2004)
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/health/10143586.htm - Denise Gellene, "Stem Cell Firms Bet on Big Payoff," Los Angeles Times (November 7, 2004)
http://www.latimes.com/business/
la-fi-stemcells7nov07,0,638192.story?coll=la-home-business - Carl T. Hall, "Medical dean put on stem cell panel, San Francisco Chronicle (November 6, 2004)
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/11/06/BAGHR9NBI01.DTL - Mike Schwartz, "The Rush to Research," The Press Enterprise (November 6, 2004)
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_cell07.a149d.html - Tim Simmers, "Accountability part of stem-cell mix," Oakland Tribune (November 4, 2004)
http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~1865~2512943,00.html - Megan Garvey, "State Bets on the Promise of Stem Cell Research," Los Angeles Times (November 4, 2004)
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/
la-me-stemcell4nov04,1,2799768.story?coll=la-headlines-california - Elizabeth Weise and Dan Vergano, "Californians support stem cell research measure," USA Today (November 4, 2004)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/
vote2004/2004-11-03-ca-initiative-stemcells_x.htm - Mary F. Albert, "Stem cell measure gets nod," San Francisco Examiner (November 4, 2004)
http://www.sfexaminer.com/article/index.cfm/i/110404n_stemcells - Laura Mecoy , "Stem cell research now on fast track," Sacramento Bee (November 4, 2004)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/11314752p-12229605c.html - Deena Beasley and Leonard Anderson, "Calif. stem cell victory draws praise, concern," Reuters (November 4, 2004)
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N03141616.htm - Terri Somers, "California to soon take the lead in stem cell research," San Diego Union Tribune (November 4, 2004)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/
biotech/20041104-9999-1b4stems.html - Jonathan Knight, "California says 'yes' to stem-cell research," Nature (November 3, 2004)
http://www.nature.com/news/2004/041101/full/041101-11.html - Carl T. Hall, "State voters strongly backing cell research," San Francisco Chronicle (November 3, 2004)
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/11/03/STEMCELL.TMP - Lisa M. Krieger, "Stem-cell measure heads for victory by wide margin," San Jose Mercury News (November 3, 2004)
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/10089181.htm - Randy Myers, "Prop. 71 Stem cell research," Contra Costa Times (November 3, 2004)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/10085014.htm - Deborah Finestone , "Stem-Cell Researchers Suffer on Bush Re-Election," Dow Jones Newswires(November 3, 2004)
http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?story=ON-20041103-000896-1306 - Rebecca Vesely, "State health props may set national trend", San Mateo Country Times (October 31, 2004)
http://www.sanmateocountytimes.com/Stories/
0%2C1413%2C87~11268~2504163%2C00.html - Terri Somers, "Groups that support stem cell research oppose Proposition 71," San Diego Union Tribune (October 29, 2004)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20041029-9999-1n29stem.html - Rebecca Vesely, "California's Prop 71 Divides Debate on Stem Cells", Women's e-News (October 26, 2004)
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2042 - Stephen Baxter, "Stem cell plan foes battle on," San Mateo Daily Journal (October 26, 2004)
http://www.smdailyjournal.org/article.cfm?issue=10-28-04&storyID=36094 - Paul Elias, "Prop. 71 boosts biotech shares," Associated Press (October 26, 2004)
http://www.dailybreeze.com/business/1131666.html - Tim Simmers, "Biotech boost?: Stem cell measure could lift state biotech industry," Oakland Tribune (October 24, 2004)
http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~10834~2489276,00.html - Sean McCourt, "California Voters to Decide on Stem Cell Proposition," SFSU Xpress (October 21, 2004)
http://xpress.sfsu.edu/archives/news/002119.html - Mark Sappenfield, "California: new leader in stem cells?, " Christian Science Monitor (October 20, 2004)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1025/p01s02-usgn.html - Laura Mecoy , "Rivals charge Prop. 71 conflict," Sacramento Bee (October 20, 2004)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/11152346p-12068660c.html - Lisa M. Krieger, "Stem cell measure brings foes together," San Jose Mercury News (October 20, 2004)
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/9968081.htm - "Schwarzenegger backs stem cell plan," Associated Press (October 19, 2004)
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/19/schwarzenegger.stem.ap/ - Laura Mecoy , "Foes: Profit drives stem cell measure," Sacramento Bee (October 16, 2004)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/
election/story/11109028p-12025467c.html - Clea Benson, "Nurses group opposes stem-cell plan," Sacramento Bee (October 15, 2004)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/11096119p-12012583c.html - Terri Somers, "Stem cell studies could escalate if investors see profit motive," San Diego Union Tribune (October 15, 2004)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/
business/biotech/20041015-9999-1b15stemcell.html - Carl Hall, Financing, not ethics, causing some to take closer looks," San Francisco Chronicle (October 15, 2004)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?
file=/c/a/2004/10/15/BAGV099P6N1.DTL&type=printable - Rachel Gordon, "Brown to hold forum on stem-cell research," San Francisco Chronicle (October 12, 2004)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?
f=/chronicle/archive/2004/10/12/BAGNA97COF1.DTL&type=health - Stephen Baxter, "Stem cell proposition awash with money," San Mateo Daily Journal (October 11, 2004)
http://www.smdailyjournal.org/article.cfm?issue=10-12-04&storyID=35589 - "Stem cell bond issue has narrow lead in poll," Associated Press (October 11, 2004)
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/9890647.htm - Keri Brenner, "Scientists split over stem cell measure," Marin Independent Journal (October 10, 2004)
http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,1413,234~24407~2458895,00.html - Terri Somers, "Prop. 71 opens tap for stem-cell studies," San Diego Union Tribune (October 10, 2004)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20041008-9999-1n8stemcell.html - Justin Jouvenal, "Biotechs question Prop. 71," San Mateo County Times (October 9, 2004)
http://www.sanmateocountytimes.com/Stories/0,1413,87~11268~2456828,00.html - Randy Myers, "Religion, health concerns come to odds on Prop. 71," Contra Costa Times (October 8, 2004)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/politics/elections/9869584.htm - Michael Krasny, Marcy Darnovsky, and Deborah Ortiz, "Proposition 71," KQED Forum (October 7, 2004) [Real Audio]
http://www.kqed.org/.stream/real/radio/forum/2004/10/2004-10-07b-forum.rm.ram - Lisa M. Krieger, "Stem cell measure no panacea," San Jose Mercury News (October 4, 2004)
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/health/9831017.htm - "San Mateo County Medical Association Withdraws Its Support of Prop 71," Press Release (October 4, 2004)
http://www.allianceagainstprop71.org/articles/smcma.html - Deena Beasley and Leonard Anderson, "Economic Impact of Calif. Stem Cell Plan Debated," Reuters (October 3, 2004)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=571&ncid=571&
e=1&u=/nm/20041003/hl_nm/health_california_stemcells_dc_1 - Kimm Groshong, "Stem-cell research stirs emotions," San Gabriel Valley Tribune (September 30, 2004)
http://www.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,205%257
E12220%257E2438448,00.html?search=filter - Tali Woodward, "Cell divide," San Francisco Bay Guardian (September 29, 2004)
http://www.sfbg.com/38/53/cover_stem_cell.html - Laura Mecoy, "AdWatch: TV ad enlists Nobel winner to tout Prop. 71," Sacramento Bee (September 29, 2004)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/10912680p-11830241c.html - John Broder and Andrew Pollack, "Californians to Vote on Stem Cell Research Funds," New York Times (September 20, 2004)
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/20/national/20stem.html - Jonathan Knight, "Critics slate ethical leeway in California stem-cell proposal," Nature (September 16, 2004)
- Vincent Schodolski, "Proponents of initiative to fund stem cell research pull in big money," Chicago Tribune (September 13, 2004)
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/nation/9651404.htm - Gretchen Vogel, "California Debates Whether to Become Stem Cell Heavyweight," Science (September 10, 2004)
- Margaret Talev, "A sit-down with the governor: He holds forth on driver's licenses for immigrants, stem cell research bonds," Sacramento Bee (August 11, 2004)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/10333600p-11253697c.html - Susan L. Thomas, "Money, hopes ride on Prop. 71 victory," East Bay Business Times (August 6, 2004)
http://eastbay.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2004/08/09/focus1.html - "Governor In Tight Political Spot On Stem Cell Research: Schwarzenegger Not Expected To Take Position On Proposition 71," Associated Press (August 5, 2004)
http://www.nbc4.tv/politics/3620426/detail.html - Anne Applebaum, "Stem Cell Stumping," Washington Post (August 4, 2004)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38130-2004Aug3.html - Vincent Schodolski, "The latest frontier in stem cell debate," Chicago Tribune (August 1, 2004)
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/nation/9296011.htm - Paul Elias, "EBay founder's donation backs stem cell research," AP (July 16, 2004)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/state/9168981.htm?1c - Robert Mullins, "Scientists in region want to take lead on stem cell," San Diego Union Tribune (July 4, 2004)
http://www.curesforcalifornia.com/news_clip_0704SDUT.php - "Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Endorses California Stem Cell Ballot Initiative," Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report (June 21, 2004)
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/
print_report.cfm?DR_ID=24310&dr_cat=2 - Rick Weiss, "Stem Cells An Unlikely Therapy for Alzheimer's: Reagan-Inspired Zeal For Study Continues," Washington Post (June 10, 2004)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29561-2004Jun9.html - Amy Fagan, "Stem-cell funding on California ballot," The Washsington Times (June 5, 2004)
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040604-105138-3268r.htm - Carl T. Hall, "Long road ahead for stem cell initiative: Proposal to finance research qualifies for state ballot," San Francisco Chronicle (June 4, 2004)
- Paul Elias, "Venture capital money backs California stem cell measure," Associated Press (May 21, 2004)
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/
techpolicy/2004-05-21-stem-cell-vc-calif_x.htm - Dan Vergano, "States dive into stem cell debates," USA Today (April 20, 2004)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-04-20-stem-cell-cover_x.htm - Carl T. Hall, "Stem-cell Research's Creative Financing: Federal Strictures Prompt Push for Private, State Funds," San Francisco Chronicle (March 15, 2004)
Several of the researchers who have played key roles in crafting the California initiative are profiled in:
Neil Munro, "Academics' Ties to Business Muddy Disclosure Decisions," The Scientist (April 21, 2003)
http://www.the-scientist.com/yr2003/apr/prof4_030421.html
Neil Munro, "Doctor Who? Scientists are treated as objective arbiters in the cloning debate. But most have serious skin in the game," Washington Monthly (November 2002)
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2001/0211.munro.html