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Subsidies: A firm that received tax dollars to pursue embryonic stem cell research abandons what was touted as the most promising avenue of research for medical miracles. Then there's that "conscience thing." When Geron Corp. announced in January 2010 that the first clinical trial using its embryonic stem cells to treat an actual human patient was under way, its stock shot up 6.4%. Geron got the first Food and Drug Administration license to use embryonic stem cells to treat people in a clinical trial, in this case patients with a spinal cord injury. Last week Geron announced that it was...

Without so much as a press release, Embryonic Stem Cell research is being slowly defunded by the State of California. Remember Proposition 71, the California initiative that pledged $3 billion dollars of public funds to this dubious research? Back in 2004 voters in that state bet that embryonic stem cells held the key to untold cures and therapies. Six years later, after destroying innumerable embryos and devaluing human life, they have nothing to show for their investment. Only adult stem cell research has shown any promise. By reprogramming adult stem cells, researchers have produced astounding results; curing everything from type...

RUSH: Oh. "Five years after a budget-busting $3 billion was allocated to embryonic stem cell research, there have been no cures, no therapies and little progress. So supporters are embracing research they once opposed. California's Proposition 71 was intended to create a $3 billion West Coast counterpart to the National Institutes of Health, empowered to go where the NIH could not — either because of federal policy or funding restraints on biomedical research centered on human embryonic stem cells. Supporters of the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative, passed in 2004, held out hopes of imminent medical miracles that...

Bioethics: Five years after a budget-busting $3 billion was allocated to embryonic stem cell research, there have been no cures, no therapies and little progress. So supporters are embracing research they once opposed. California's Proposition 71 was intended to create a $3 billion West Coast counterpart to the National Institutes of Health, empowered to go where the NIH could not — either because of federal policy or funding restraints on biomedical research centered on human embryonic stem cells. Supporters of the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative, passed in 2004, held out hopes of imminent medical miracles that were...

Bioethics: The former director of the National Institutes of Health, once an enthusiast for embryonic stem cells, now says their future has "dimmed." So why is the administration bailing out research into such therapies while troubled states like California have committed billions?Aside from creating or saving a few research jobs, the administration's decision to federally fund embryonic stem cell research is, as we've noted, a bailout of bad science. It throws money at an avenue of research that time and adult stem cell progress have passed by. Applauding the administration's move was Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., who echoed the claims...

Throughout his presidency, the Science Intelligentsia has castigated President Bush for placing limits on the federal funding of embryonic-stem-cell research (ESCR). Acting as if he had a banned ESCR, which of course he hadn’t, “the scientists” and their camp followers in the media and on Capital Hill accused the president of withholding cures from the ill in order to impose his religious beliefs on a reluctant public.  Little noted in all of the caterwauling, was that ESCR and human-cloning research (SCNT) have been funded bounteously — to the tune of nearly $2 billion. Not only has the National Institutes of...

Otherwise Known as the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative Embryo Vivisection and Elusive Promises ActUnable to attract private investors, and shut out of federal dollars, the biotech industry has partnered with Hollywood and the disease lobby in a widely publicized attempt to fund human cloning and embryonic stem cell research with taxpayer dollars.This November voters will find the "California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative" on the ballot. This is a deceptively labeled $3 billion bond initiative, one which amends the California state Constitution.To be on the ballot, proponents are required to secure 600,000 signatures. But thanks to...

The billion dollars in royalties that voters were told could flow to the state if they passed California's $3 billion stem cell research funding initiative in 2004 may turn into an empty promise. Researchers and business groups are raising a host of reasons the state should claim no portion of the revenue from inventions produced under the stem cell program created by Proposition 71. For one thing, they say, requiring that the state get a share would hinder work toward disease cures by removing some of the incentive for private investors. But perhaps their strongest argument is that the state...

"I would find it difficult to look at myself in the mirror if I didn't take a stand against this disingenuous proposition," says Academy Award-winning director Mel Gibson in an interview with National Review Online. Last week, Gibson publicly joined the campaign against Proposition 71 (the California Stem Cells Research and Cures/Bond Act), a $3-6 billion California referendum to fund embryonic-stem-cell research and human cloning. Under the false promise of panacea cures, Proposition 71 would also create a constitutional "right" to conduct human-cloning research. In addition to his concern for the sanctity of human life, Gibson offers frugal common-sense points...

To: National Desk Contact: Christopher Norfleet of Focus on the Family, 719-268-4890 or culturalissues@family.org COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Oct. 29 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Focus on the Family Founder and Chairman Dr. James C. Dobson will interview Mel Gibson, director of the critically acclaimed "The Passion of the Christ," on his daily radio program Monday, Nov. 1, on the actor's outspoken opposition to California's Proposition 71. The initiative proposes to amend the state's constitution to foist $6 billion in public debt on Californians to fund the cloning of human embryos for destructive embryonic stem-cell research. "Why are we being misled into thinking...

I designed some flyers for people to pass out on Proposition 71. As you know, Prop 71 will amend the State constitution and give free reign to human cloning, as well as putting the state budget in further jeopardy. Here's the links for the flyers: Don't Use Women as Guinea PigsIt's not about health, it's all about MoneyThey want a world where people like me don't exist Please print these out, copy them if possible, and pass them on. I'm printing a bunch up myself, so if you want copies and you live in San Francisco, you can contact me...

Question from readers concerning our opposition to Proposition 71: How can you oppose stem-cell research? Answer: We support stem-cell research. What we don't support is burying California even deeper in debt. Proposition 71 doesn't say we're going to spend $3 billion on stem-cell research. It says we're going to borrow $3 billion, which will be repaid from $6 billion of principal and interest that would otherwise be spent on education and health care. Never mind that there is no guarantee that the money won't become a subsidy to the biotech industry. This is the problem with ballot measures. They are...

A century ago, a common sight in small towns was the itinerant peddler offering an amazing new elixir guaranteed to “cure whatever ails ya.” The peddler would make a small fortune, get out of town on the next stagecoach, and the gullible victims would be left with nothing to show for it but a lighter purse and a hangover. Today, supporters of Proposition 71 are making exactly the same claim: that for the low, low price of just $3 billion, they can cure everything from diabetes to cancer. Prop. 71 requires California taxpayers to borrow $3 billion for stem cell...

SAN FRANCISCO - The Roman Catholic Church and the wealthy evangelical Christian Howard Ahmanson Jr. have emerged as the biggest financial backers of the campaign against a California ballot measure that would fund stem cell research and cloning projects. Each contributed $50,000 last week to separate campaign groups, bringing the total to $125,000 combined.Proposition 71 on the Nov. 2 ballot directs the state to borrow $3 billion to pay for the controversial research that scientists say is being hindered by the Bush administration.Supporters have amassed about $12 million, including a contribution of 22,400 shares of biotechnology giant Amgen Inc. worth...