Christian MD: Cloud of Controversy Has Some Californians Peering Through Prop 71 Smokescreen
by Mary Rettig
January 5, 2006
(AgapePress) - - More than a year has passed since California voters approved Proposition 71, a three-billion-dollar bond issue to support embryonic stem cell research, or ESCR. But the executive director of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA) says this ethically controversial type of research has not produced any of the fruit its supporters have promised. Dr. David Stevens, CMDA's executive director, says the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine that was formed to take and use the funding for stem cell research has not received one dollar from the state so far. He notes that the Institute has been shrouded in controversy, along with charges of cronyism and inside dealing.
"What's amazing," Stevens contends, "is that the person that actually funded with $35 million this huge propaganda campaign to pass Proposition 71 wrote the law in such a way that he was then in charge of the three billion-dollar project. That has really raised some eyebrows, as he was placed in charge, and then those that are working with him are those who will benefit from the research."
As a result, the CMDA spokesman says, those overseeing the use of the ESCR money will have no open meetings, since "they are the ones that will benefit from the grants that will be given." However, that funding may be a long while in coming, since the Institute is currently involved in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the whole process.
"The public concern firms are very worried that there's just too little government oversight of this huge institution that's being created," Stevens explains. "A good example of that," he adds, "is that the salary of the president of the institute was set at $389,000 -- which is much more than even the head of the National Institutes of Health in Washington gets."
The case against the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is set to be heard in court next month. Stevens notes that, even if this lawsuit is not successful, there are several other suits pending against the institute. And now, because of the seemingly endless controversy surrounding it, the Christian physician feels many people are finally starting to see past the propaganda of Prop 71 and realize there is nothing there.
Mary Rettig, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
