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248 Saturday, November 4, 2006 - STEM CELL REPORT CARD: Please Forward to Friends! Good Morning! There is a stem cell component to Tuesday's California election. As you know, Californians voted in favor of Proposition 71 in 2004, authorizing $3 billion in funding for America's largest stem cell institution: the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). The CIRM has been under constant attack ever since. California must have an Attorney General who will protect the new state institution. Also, four officials-the Governor, Lt. Governor, Controller and Treasurer-can each appoint up to five new members to the board of directors (Independent Citizens Oversight Committee) of our new stem cell research program. Just one obstructionist appointee could be damaging. The following Stem Cell Report Card was developed by a group I am proud to be associated with: Americans for Stem Cell Therapies and Cures, Americans for Cures. Please forward this to your email lists-even if they are out of state-because your friend in New Jersey may have a friend in California. Help America's largest stem cell research institution stay focused to its purpose: "turning stem cells into cures". Thanks, Don C. Reed P.S. Pride compels me to mention that it was my son, Roman Reed, who suggested the CIRM's official slogan, "turning stem cells into cures"! STEM CELL RESEARCH REPORT CARD Name (alphabetical order)Stem Cell Research PositionDescription of Position Governor's Office Treasurer Phil Angelides (D)Phil Angelides has been an advocate of all kinds of stem cell research. He was an early endorser and proponent of Proposition 71. He is quoted as saying that "he is committed to doing everything possible to bring these bonds to market and fulfill Californians' desire to fund this potentially life-saving research." [i] Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) A day after President Bush vetoed a measure that would have expanded federal funding of embryonic stem cell research; Schwarzenegger authorized a $150 million loan to fund the state's stem cell institute, which has been stalled by lawsuits.[ii] Schwarzenegger was an endorser of Proposition 71 and has said that he supports the research "100 Percent." [iii] Lieutenant Governor's Office Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi (D) John Garamendi has been an advocate for scientific research throughout his political career. In 1980, in the California Senate, he wrote the law that established the California Council on Science and Technology, a law that has funded $1.3 billion of research facilities on UC Campuses. He also authored a law that has funded over $250 million in cancer research. He has stated that he "strongly support(s) stem cell research" and that "Proposition 71 ensures that California will be at forefront of this critical research."[iv] State Senator Tom McClintock (R)Tom McClintock has consistently opposed Proposition 71. During the 2004 campaign McClintock repeatedly went on record condemning Proposition 71 and was one of the co-authors of the opposition's official ballot argument. He abstained from any opportunity to protect stem cell research in California, and voted against a piece of legislation which called on the President and Congress to reject federal legislation that impedes the progress of stem cell research science. Treasurer's Office Attorney General Bill Lockyer (D)As Attorney General, Bill Lockyer represented CIRM, the stem cell institute, at a trial of lawsuits waged against the implementation of Proposition 71. After these lawsuits were ruled without merit and the Proposition's opponents appealed, Attorney General Lockyer filed a motion to expedite these appeals. He is quoted as saying, "In passing Proposition 71, voters made a decision to put California in the vanguard of a scientific movement that holds tremendous promise for advancing public health."[v] State Board of Equalization Member Claude Parrish (R)??No response to repeated requests on candidate's position. State Controller's Office State Board of Equalization Member John Chiang (D)John Chiang responded this organization's questionnaire by stating that he strongly supports stem cell research. Chiang has been a longtime supporter of the advancement of stem cell research and medical science. Former State Assemblyman Tony Strickland (R)Tony Strickland did not respond to this organization's questionnaire on Proposition 71, but his legislative record while he was in the State Assembly from 1999-2004 clearly demonstrates that he is an opponent of embryonic stem cell research. He voted against legislation that would have protected the SCNT stem cell research in California and federally (SB 253 and SJR 38 in 2002) and also voted against proceeding with the research with proper ethical guidelines when he voted against establishing an advisory committee or a panel to guide the legislature (SCR 55 in 2003 and SB 322 in 2003). Attorney General's Office Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown (D)Mayor Jerry Brown strongly supports stem cell research and has pledged "to ensure that stem-cell research is strongly protected under California law." He assures us that he will "fight all current and future attempts to substitute fundamentalist theology for sound science." Continuing to demonstrate his deep commitment to stem cell research, Mayor Jerry Brown has specifically supported the implementation of Proposition 71 through the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. State Senator Chuck Poochigian (R)Chuck Poochigian's legislative record as a State Senator reflects his opposition to embryonic stem cell research. Senator Poochigian opposed SB 253 which explicitly approved and encouraged ethical stem cell research in California. SB 253 had broad public support and became law in 2002. SB 253 was opposed by the Christian Coalition and the California Pro-Life Council. The same year, Poochigian voted against SJR 38, which explicitly requested the President and Congress to reject pending legislation that would impede stem cell research. The resolution passed the California Senate with a vote of 22 to 11. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn