Appeal to Supreme Court Could Further Delay Stem Cell Funding
The California Supreme Court is weighing whether to review a state appeals court ruling upholding the constitutionality of the state's stem cell agency, the Sacramento Bee reports (Downing, Sacramento Bee, 4/7).
The plaintiffs in the case -- the People's Advocate and National Tax Limitation Foundation -- requested that the Supreme Court review the ruling. The Supreme Court in 2005 declined to hear the case, which the plaintiffs then pursued in lower courts (Somers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/7).
California voters in 2004 approved Proposition 71 to create the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and provide $3 billion in taxpayer funding over 10 years for stem cell research. The funding primarily was intended to finance human embryonic stem cell research, for which federal funds are restricted.
The plaintiffs in 2005 filed suit to challenge the measure's constitutionality because they claimed that state elected officials do not have direct control over how the $3 billion could be spent. Alameda County Superior Court and a state appeals court both have rejected the groups' arguments.
CIRM has been unable to issue bonds to fund research until the lawsuit is resolved. Bonds and loans from donors and a state loan have permitted the agency to maintain operations and begin issuing grants (California Healthline, 2/27).
The State Supreme Court must decide by June 5 whether to hear the case (Somers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/7). A final ruling would be due by the end of 2007 (Sacramento Bee, 4/7).
KPCC's "Air Talk" on Tuesday will include a discussion on the latest stem cell research in California ("Air Talk," KPCC, 4/10).
Audio of the segment will be available online later this week. Weekly archives of recent "Air Talk" broadcasts also are available online.