Proposition 71: Stem Cell Research Introduction Background on Stem Cell Research Official Voter Information Public Opinion Selected Articles and Reports Key Web Sites Recommendations by Organizations and Newspapers Other Nov. 2004 Ballot Propositions December 2004 Final update of text and links.

LIBRARY Institute of Governmental Studies University of California 109 Moses Hall #2370  Berkeley, CA 94720-2370  510-642-1472 (voice)  510-643-0866 (fax) Statewide Returns from the California Secretary of State: Prop. 71: Support 59.1%, Oppose 40.9%

Introduction

Background on Stem Cell Research

California is currently center stage for public debate on the use of human embryonic stem cells for medical research. The broader context of this debate has roots in the history of federal financing of this controversial research. Stem cells from embryos and fetuses donated for research purposes were first isolated and cultivated by medical researchers in 1998. The Department of Health and Human Services ruled in 1999 that embryonic stem cell research was exempt from a 1995 Congressional ban on federal financing for research in which human embryos are destroyed. In August 2000 the National Institutes of Health set guidelines for obtaining federal funding. However, in his presidential campaign Gov. George W. Bush declared his opposition to federal funding for research that destroys living human embryos. After gaining office President Bush reiterated his opposition to "stem cell research that involves destroying living human embryos" but indicated his support for "promising research on adult stem cells from adult tissue." On Aug. 9, 2001 he declared that federal funding would be limited to research on cells that had already been extracted, and that the government would not support the destruction of new embryos.

US law currently prohibits federal funds from being used on research that involves newly derived embryonic stem-cell lines. Private funds, however, are exempt from such restrictions. In addition, individual states are free make their own decisions regarding funding biomedical research which may include stem cells.

Official Voter Information

Via the California Secretary of State. The text, legislative analysis and ballot arguments are from the Official Voter Information Guide. Campaign finance data is from the Cal-Access database of campaign receipts and expenditures.

Text
Legislative Analysis and Ballot Arguments
Campaign Finance:
Individual Campaign Committees
Total Contributions and Expenditures (select "Nov. 2004 election" and "Prop. 71" in dropdown boxes)

Key Websites

Public Interest Sites

League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Impartial analysis of Proposition 71: In Depth and Pros and Cons

California Journal
Ballot propositions: Analysis of the November propositions by California Journal editors in the October issue.

HealthVote2004.org
HealthVote2004.org provides voters with facts and non-partisan analysis, as well as easy access to information on who supports and opposes the measures, who is paying for the campaigns, how much is being spent, results of statewide polls, and the latest news. HealthVote2004.org is a collaboration between two non-partisan, non-profit organizations-the California HealthCare Foundation and The Center for Governmental Studies.

Advocacy Sites

Alliance for Stem Cell Research is a coalition in support of Proposition 71. It consists of disease and patient advocacy organizations, medical groups and hospitals, California elected officials, business groups, and many others.
[Website archived in UCLA Online Campaign Literature Collection]

Center For Genetics and Society hosts an anti-Prop. 71 page on their web-site. Their page includes analysis from a scientific and policy perspective, a collection of articles from the press and an overview of the human genetics technology involved.

Doctors, Patients and Taxpayers for Fiscal Responsibility opposes Proposition 71. Their web site includes a list of members willing to speak to the press.+
[Website archived in UCLA Online Campaign Literature Collection]

Pro-Choice Alliance Against Proposition 71
Coalition of Pro-Choice individuals and organizations working to defeat Proposition 71.
[Website archived in UCLA Online Campaign Literature Collection]

Public Opinion

"Times California exit poll results," Los Angeles Times Poll, Nov. 2, 2004.
Los Angeles Times Poll [Locate poll through website]

"Health-Related Propositions: Support for Prop. 71, Stem Cell Research Bond, continues to grow. Voters moving to the No side on Prop. 72, Health Insurance Requirements," Field Poll, Release #2147, October 31, 2004.

"Los Angeles Times Poll Excerpts," Los Angeles Times Poll, Oct. 20, 2004.
Responses to questions on Propositions 63, 66, 67, and 71.
Los Angeles Times Poll [Locate poll through website]

"Stem cell ballot initiative leading by a narrow margin," Field Poll, Release #2139, Oct. 10, 2004.

"U.S. Senate race, key ballot measures," Los Angeles Times Poll, September 24, 2004. [Locate poll through website]

Mark Baldassare.
"Support for Open Primary; Health Insurance Referendum lags despite health care worries," PPIC Statewide Survey: September 2004.
See p. vi.

"Voters sharply divided on stem cell research bond measure. Favor two other health-related propositions but oppose a fourth," Field Poll, Release #2130, August 15, 2004.

Selected Articles and Reports

The following citations include links to full-text online when available. For more info, see Tips for Finding Full-Text Articles.

Mecoy, Laura .
"Stem cell research now on fast track," Sacramento Bee, Nov. 4, 2004.
Access World News (UCB)

Benson, Clea .
"Support on rise for stem cell bond ," Sacramento Bee, October 31 , 2004.
Access World News (UCB)

Schrag, Peter.
"Tuesday's initiatives: Another shackle on government," Sacramento Bee, Oct. 27, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Mecoy, Laura.
"Rivals charge Prop. 71 conflict: Stem cell researcher in 'yes' ads could get rich, they contend," Sacramento Bee, Oct. 21, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Krieger, Lisa M.
"Stem cell measure brings foes together:: Prop. 71 is blurring usual dividing line ," San Jose Mercury News, Oct. 20, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Garvey, Megan.
"Voters Favor Scaling Back 3-Strikes Law: A decade after passing strict sentencing rules, most want changes. They also support a stem cell research measure, one of 16 on the ballot," Los Angeles Times, Oct. 20, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Gledhill, Lynda and Martin, Mark.
"Governor bucks Bush on stem cell research: Schwarzenegger also supports plan for open primary," San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 19, 2004.
San Francisco Chronicle

Vogel, Nancy.
"Investors Pour Millions Into Prop. 71 Race," Los Angeles Times, Oct. 18, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Winickoff, David.
"Prop. 71 a risky experiment in squandering public monies," San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 17, 2004.
San Francisco Chronicle

Mestel, Rosie.
"Stem Cell Debate Focuses on Morality and Money: Prop. 71 would commit $3 billion to seeking cures for severe maladies using human embryos," Los Angeles Times, Oct. 17, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Hall, Carl T.
"Foes closing the gap in stem-cell measure: Financing, not ethics, causing some to take closer looks," San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 15, 2004.
San Francisco Chronicle

Benson, Clea.
"Nurses group opposes stem-cell plan," Sacramento Bee, Oct. 15, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Mecoy, Laura.
"Stem cell measure aims for the sky: But foes of Prop. 71 say the state can't afford $3 billion more in bonds," Sacramento Bee, Oct. 10, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Lucas, Greg.
"Stem cell bond measure favored in poll: California would put $3 billion in research under Proposition 71," San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 10, 2004.
San Francisco Chronicle

Herhold, Scott.
"Proposition 71: Wrong way to pay for stem cell research," San Jose Mercury News, Oct. 8, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Krieger, Lisa M.
"Stem cell measure no panacea:Prop. 71 supporters say it will grow life science industry," San Jose Mercury News, Oct. 4, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Jardine, Jeff.
"A new perspective on stem cells," The Modesto Bee, Oct. 3, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Yarris, Lynn.
"Getting the facts on stem cells," San Jose Mercury News, Oct. 3, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

[Opinion]
"THE CHRONICLE RECOMMENDS: Time to advance stem-cell research," San Francisco Chronicle, September 30, 2004.
San Francisco Chronicle

Tali Woodward.
"Cell Divide: Proponents of a State Plan For Stem-Cell Research Would Like You to Believe Only the Religious Right Opposes It; But Some of the Strongest Critics Are Hardly Christian Conservatives," San Francisco Bay Guardian, September 29, 2004.
San Francisco Bay Guardian

[Opinion]
"No on Prop. 71: State Should Fund Life-saving Stem Cell Research, But Not This Way," The Fresno Bee, September 29, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Garvey, Megan.
"Both Gambling Measures Failing: but Voters Favor Funding Stem Cell Research and Requiring Businesses to Pay For Health Coverage," Los Angeles Times, Sept. 24, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Slater, Eric.
"Stem Cell Supporters Launch Ad Campaign," Los Angeles Times, Sept. 24, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Schnayerson, Ben.
"Stem cell bond's costs disputed," Sun, The (San Bernardino, CA), September 24, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

"Editorial: No on Proposition 71," Sacramento Bee, September 22, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Jonathan Knight.
"Critics Slate Ethical Leeway in California Stem-Cell Proposal," Nature, September 16, 2004.
Center For Genetics and Society

[Opinion]
"Bold Research: Yes on Prop. 71: It Holds the Key to Bold Research," San Jose Mercury News, September 15, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Mecoy, Laura.
"Stem cell backers cite savings: study released by Prop. 71 supporters says it will bring economic, health benefits," Sacramento Bee, September 15, 2004.
Access World News (UCB)

Baker, Laurence and Bruce Deal.
Economic Impact Analysis: Proposition 71 California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. Analysis Group: Economic, Financial, and Strategy Consultants, September 14, 2004.

Vogel, Gretchen.
"California Debates Whether to Become Stem Cell Heavyweight," Science, September 10, 2004.
Center For Genetics and Society

Garvey, Megan.
"Shultz Supports Stem Cell Measure," Los Angeles Times, September 8, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Mecoy, Laura.
"Bickering Spotlights Stem-cell Measure," Sacramento Bee, September 5, 2004.
Access World News (UCB)

Schrag, Peter.
"Stem cells, slick sells and other political soft soap," Sacramento Bee, September 1, 2004.
Sacramento Bee

Garvey, Megan.
"Stem cell initiative attracts backers: almost $11 million has been raised by proponents of Proposition 71; foes collect only $75,000," Los Angeles Times, August 31, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Davidson, Keay.
"Stem cell initiative leads by small margin: opinions on funds for research mirror presidential race," San Francisco Chronicle, August 15, 2004.
San Francisco Chronicle

Talev, Margaret.
"A sit-down with the governor: he holds forth on driver's licenses for immigrants, stem cell research bonds," Sacramento Bee, August 11, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Mecoy, Laura.
"State GOP: no on stem-cell bond. Party leaders cite cloning and state debt, but some support research," Sacramento Bee, August 9, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

Schodolski, Vincent J.
"The latest frontier in stem cell debate: California ballot issue seeks funds for research center; foes cite budget woes and unproven effectiveness, but advocates say it could be key to cures," Chicago Tribune, August 1, 2004.
NewsBank (UCB)

"Stem Cell Wars," Tikkun (July-August 2002)
CGS Associate Director Marcy Darnovsky, Foundation on Economic Trends President Jeremy Rifkin, and psychologist Raymond Barglow debate stem cell research and research cloning.
Tikkun

Cameron, Nigel M. de S. and Jennifer Lahl.
"Legislating medicine: California's bizarre cloning proposition," San Francisco Chronicle, July 11, 2004.
San Francisco Chronicle

Weiss, Rick.
"Stem Cells An Unlikely Therapy for Alzheimer's: Reagan-Inspired Zeal For Study Continues," Washington Post, June 10, 2004.
Washington Post

McCarthy, Michael.
"US researchers push past stem-cell restrictions: states and private sources fund research denied federal support by Bush ban," The Lancet, March 13, 2004, Vol. 363, No. 9412, p. 868-9.
Elsevier ScienceDirect (UCB)

Smith, Wesley J.
"California cloning may be coming soon: a budding ballot measure seeks $3 billion from taxpayers for stem-cell research," San Francisco Chronicle, February 1, 2004.
San Francisco Chronicle

Stolberg, Sheryl Gay.
"A question of research: disappointed by limits, scientists doubt estimate of available cell lines," New York Times, August 10, 2001, p. A17.
NY Times

Seelye, Katharine Q.
"Bush gives his backing for limited resarch on existing stem cells," New York Times, August 10, 2001, p. A1.
ProQuest (UCB)

Prepared by the staff of the IGS Library. Send comments to igsl@uclink.berkeley.edu.