NYT: Defying Bush Admin., CA Voters Approve $3B for Stem Cell Research

[DeepModem Mom]

INITIATIVES
Defying Bush Administration, Voters in California Approve $3 Billion for Stem Cell Research
By DEAN E. MURPHY

Published: November 4, 2004


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 3 - California voters approved a ballot measure on Tuesday to spend $3 billion over the next 10 years on research of human embryonic stem cells, the largest state-run scientific research effort in the country.

Unofficial results showed the measure passed with 59 percent of the vote.

The measure, Proposition 71, was backed by an assortment of wealthy business people, Hollywood personalities, scientists and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, who broke ranks with President Bush and the California Republican Party on the contentious issue.

The Bush administration has placed restrictions on using public money for research on embryonic stem cells, citing opposition to the destruction of human embryos. Last year, the federal government spent $25 million on stem cell studies; with the passage of Proposition 71, California will spend $300 million a year beginning in 2005.

The measure calls for the establishment of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which is expected to become the nation's incubator for stem cell studies. The state will pay for the effort by issuing $3 billion in general obligation bonds at an estimated cost of $6 billion over the next 30 years.


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/politics/campaign/04stem.html

[Ganja Ninja]

1. I hope that when new cures from this research become ...

available that the right wing fundies will have the courage of their convictions to refuse treatment. Somehow I know that won't be the case.

[LynnTheDem]

3. Great minds think alike, LOL!

:D

[Ganja Ninja]

4. I guess that's why they call us far out lefties. n/t

[phylny]

5. And I hope the economy of California is duly rewarded n/t

[LynnTheDem]

2. And when they find the cure for being crippled or vegetable or cancer

etc, any crippled or ill rightwingnuttery who supported bush against the research can all just DO WITHOUT THE CURE.

After all, we wouldn't want them to compromise themselves. :)

[AndrewJacksonFaction]

6. Right On

[arwalden]

7. California Should Be Its Own Country

[LynzM]

8. As a diabetic

It makes me very glad to see this research going on at least one place in our country. They have used stem cell treatments to cure diabetes in mice. I only hope that it can be advanced to cure humans, as well....

Go California! :)

[KansDem]

14. I with you...!

Last year I was diagnosed with diabetes.

I lost my temper a few times this campaign season when someone expressed a desire to vote for Bush. I would say that because of Bush's ridiculous ruling regarding stem-cell research, I and others will suffer needlessly.

I put this on a personal level to make an impact. I'm 51, so I doubt that any breakthroughs will benefit me. However, I'm concerned about the children of today who might have to suffer unnecessarily 20, 30, 50 years from now because of Bush's arrogance.

They will still be suffering needlessly when Bush is merely a footnote in history.

[YDogg]

9. Arnold ...

... and his endoresment may have helped on this ... and if so, good for him. Not a fan of his generally (governorship-wise), but as he was willing to break with more conservative pubs on this, I am especially pleased. I hope to goodness real progress is made through this research, mostly for the benefit of people with illnesses who can be helped, but also as a vindication of the correctness of pushing scientific research barriers.

[calimary]

11. Yes, Arnold got behind this. He's not a complete neanderthal, just a

partial one.

I think the post here about trying to stop the brain-drain is also spot-on. WHERE can our scientists and researchers (those who don't necessarily believe that the world was created in seven days like the BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIBLE says) go to do their work? There is now a hostile environment for scientific research. I fear for our country. It will no longer be a leader in science and technology. NASA scientists looking into global warming are being told to shut up. Funding will evaporate for anything that isn't fundie-sanctioned. Probably more will go into research about encouraging the Rapture or something. But we, as a nation, will no longer be a guiding light. The advancements will come from elsewhere, along with the scientific achievement, new inventions, new technologies, and jobs.

Every empire has its days of glory. Ours are now past. We have now entered our declining years. I didn't think it'd happen in my lifetime. But November 2nd was the official kick-off. The beginning of the end.

[DinahMoeHum]

10. They're doing this to try and stem the brain and industry drain

which WILL occur now that Bush has a 2nd term.

This was done to try and support these research scientists now in California who would've considered defecting to the UK, which has a thriving research on stem cells.

:bounce:

[calimary]

12. I think this is correct.

Because R&D CANNOT survive here. Not now. And considering the vindictiveness of this bunch in the White House, we Californians will probably pay a price for this. Arnold notwithstanding.

[stopwastingmymoney]

13. Good for you California!

Hello, This is my first post, although I have been lurking here for a couple of months, this group of people is just great, refreshing change from the majority of boards out there.

I live in california and encouraged everyone I know to vote yes for this. It really is the one saving bright spot of this election. I am very proud of the people of my state for passing this measure, so a big THANK YOU!

[DeepModem Mom]

15. Welcome to DU, stopwastingmymoney!

Thanks for posting, and for encouraging support for the stem cell initiative -- I know other Californians who saw its passage as a glimmer of hope on a bad night --