Stem Cell Initiative Certified for Ballot (in California)

[papau]

Stem Cell Initiative Certified for Ballot

http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/ehIV0H5DEY0G2B0F1ir0AQ

Stem Cell Initiative Certified for Ballot
The $3-billion measure puts California in the forefront of an ongoing national debate.


SACRAMENTO — An initiative that would have state taxpayers underwrite $3 billion worth of research into using embryonic stem cells to develop cures for Alzheimer's and other debilitating diseases qualified for the Nov. 2 ballot Thursday, propelling California to the forefront of a national battle at the intersection of science and morality.

The California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative is one of 14 propositions that will face the state's voters in this presidential election year, officials said. Advocates contend that stem cell research, which would be financed by a state bond issue over 10 years, could lead to breakthroughs in curing numerous diseases.

The ballot initiative is an implicit referendum on an executive order that President Bush issued in 2001. That action limited the use of federal funds for stem cell research to a small number of cell colonies already extracted from human embryos.<snip>

The challenge to Bush — who will also be on the ballot in November — is made all the more dramatic by the fact that Nancy Reagan, the wife of Bush's political role model, last month publicly embraced stem cell research as a way to help people like Ronald Reagan, who suffers from Alzheimer's.<snip>

"I hope people get the message that this is an enormous expenditure of money in a financially strapped state for research that is increasingly seen as hypothetical," said Richard Doerflinger, deputy director of pro-life activities at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, based in Washington, D.C.<snip>

[readmylips]

1. Maria Shriver supports it too....

Last week, listening to Maria Shriver on TV, sounds as she's the one running the state for her trophy husband.

[David__77]

2. My state must do what the federal gov't won't.

I will support this initiative, despite the fact that this should be done, ideally, mainly at the federal level at this point.