Suit filed to invalidate Calif's $3 billion stem cell institute

[rainbow4321]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CA_STEM_CELL_LAWSUIT_CAOL-?SITE=CACHI&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT



Politically conservative public interest groups with ties to Christian organizations filed separate lawsuits Tuesday seeking to invalidate the $3 billion stem cell research funding institution passed by California voters in November.

One lawsuit filed by the People's Advocate and the National Tax Limitation Foundation alleges that the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine violates California law because it's not governed exclusively by the state government and the committee that controls the money isn't publicly elected.

The second lawsuit was filed by a newly created nonprofit called Californians for Public Accountability and Ethical Science, which is supported by at least one person who originally opposed Proposition 71.

Lawyers representing plaintiffs in both cases said they bypassed the lower courts because of the issue's urgency: The institute will soon begin to dole out the $3 billion in borrowed money over the next 10 years. Institute officials said they hope to award the first grants by May.

[GetTheRightVote]

1. Repubs still at their dirty work but CA won't let them end such help

to those who are disable, etc.

:kick:

[Luminous Animal]

2. Actually, I'm glad...

It was a horribly flawed intitiative voted in because the voters have good intentions but neglected to read the fine print. If there really is a will to create public financed research, then:
1) There needs to be public oversight, and
2) The public needs to gain their fair share (if there is one to gain) from their investment.

[The Zanti Regent]

3. Would you still be glad if you suffer like I do?

I have rheumatoid arthritis, including the constant pain that goes with it.

If you suffer from such a disease, I doubt you would keep that position.

[Lindacooks]

5. Yes, and there's a terrible genetic disease in my family.

And the only hope for a cure is stem cell research.

If you don't like stem cell research, then you can just not take advantage of the medical treatment that it creates. You have NO right to tell anybody else they have to suffer because of some sick 'moral' code.

[Luminous Animal]

6. No, I'm not glad for you or anyone else that suffers.

I'm glad because this was an extremely flawed initiative. It is quite obvious that Californians want to finance stem cell research. Now is the time for citizens instead of those looking to capitalize on other's suffering to write a decent initiative that doesn't hand billions of dollars to private corporations with little public oversight.

[wtmusic]

7. I have to agree LA

A lot of well-intentioned people did not look carefully enough. Just keep pushing that debt down the pipeline...

[Erika]

4. The people chose.

The extreme right-wingers just didn't like the choice. They want this government to be theocratic where they can mandate what they deem to be for the "public good".

[NVMojo]

8. Christian groups sue to stop California stem-cell research

the fundies need a real cause, send them to Iraq to stop senseless killing of real live people ...

Feb. 23, 2005 12:00 AM

SAN FRANCISCO - Conservative public-interest groups with ties to Christian organizations filed lawsuits Tuesday seeking to invalidate the $3 billion stem-cell research institution approved by California voters in November.

One lawsuit alleges the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine violates state law because it's not governed exclusively by the state government, and the committee that controls the research money it will dole out isn't publicly elected.

The institute was created by California voters when they approved a $3 billion bond to fund stem-cell research over the next decade. Proposition 71 was passed by 59 percent of voters. advertisement

The suit was filed by the People's Advocate and the National Tax Limitation Foundation. A separate suit was filed by a non-profit called Californians for Public Accountability and Ethical Science.

more...

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0223stemcells23.html

[SHRED]

9. Damn...

another frivilous lawsuit?

:silly:

[bluestateguy]

10. You mean they want activist judges to thwart the will of the people?

They want a "judicial tyrant" in a black robe to legislate from the bench.

[arwalden]

11. What's The Deal With These Regressive Christians??

Would they be happier if we returned to the Middle Ages?

[Tesha]

12. "Let the people vote!"

"Let the people vote!"

"What'ya mean they voted against us??? We'll sue the bastards!"

D'ja ever notice how the Right always wants to let the people vote,
but only on those issues they're sure they're going to win? When they
know they've got a losing proposition on their hands (like, for example,
banning abortion), then they do everything they can to thwart the will
of the majority.

Tesha

[Igel]

13. Having all sorts of lawsuits challenging California initiatives

became part of the usual practice long ago.

The division immigration proposition from a decade ago (prop 182? 187?) went round and round in the courts until much of it was thrown out. The bilingual education bill went to the courts. These "expressions of the will of the people" were attacked not by conservatives.

The Indian Gaming Initiative went to the courts. I was out of state by then, didn't follow who the attackers were.

Other ballot measures get pitched out before they even get voted on ... two insufficiently related topics. Whatever.

Until a proposition's weathered the storms in the court system, it's can't be taken too seriously.