eBay Founder Donates $1 Million to Campaign Supporting Proposition 71
eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pamela, have donated $1 million to a campaign in favor of Proposition 71, which would provide funding for stem cell research, the AP/San Jose Mercury News reports (Elias, AP/San Jose Mercury News, 7/15). The initiative, which will appear on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot, would raise an average of $295 million annually for 10 years to promote stem cell research through the issue of state bonds. The measure would provide funds for a new stem cell research center at a University of California campus, as well as grants and loans for laboratory projects at other colleges. State analysts say the measure would cost a total of $6 billion, including interest. Initiative supporters hope to raise $20 million for the campaign (California Healthline, 7/12). The AP/Mercury News reports that the campaign to date has raised $7 million, with donations from Silicon Valley venture capitalists accounting for much of the total. A coalition of Roman Catholic churches in the state has raised about $50,000 for a campaign opposing Proposition 71, according to coalition spokesperson Carol Hogan. "This is going to be a real David versus Goliath fight," Hogan said (AP/San Jose Mercury News, 7/15).
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