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Prop 14

a YES vote supports issuing $5.5 billion general obligation bonds for the state's stem cell research institute and making changes to the institute's governance structure and programs.
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a NO vote opposes issuing $5.5 billion general obligation bonds for the state's stem cell research institute, which ran out funds derived from Proposition 71 (2004) for new projects in 2019.

Official Arguments (click ▸ to expand)

✅ Support

PROPOSITION 14: STEM CELL TREATMENTS, CURES, AND SAVING LIVES. Nearly half of all California families include a child or adult with medical conditions who could benefit from Stem Cell research, treatments, and cures. Prop. 14 provides continued funding to develop treatments, advance clinical trials and achieve new scientific breakthroughs for California’s patients with Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, HIV/AIDS, ALS, MS, Sickle Cell Disease, Lung Diseases, Kidney Disease, Bubble Baby Disease, Age–Related Blindness and Genetic Blindness, Epilepsy, Stroke, Schizophrenia, Autism, other Mental Health and Brain Conditions, and Infectious Diseases like COVID–19. BUILDING ON CONTINUING SUCCESS: 92 FDA–APPROVED CLINICAL TRIALS / 2,900 MEDICAL DISCOVERIES TO DATE. California’s original Stem Cell funding, which runs out this year, has already led to significant progress in the development of treatments and cures, including 92 FDA–approved clinical trials for chronic disease and injuries, over 2,900 medical discoveries, and demonstrated benefits for patients and research on chronic diseases including: Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Conditions, Blindness, HIV/AIDS, ALS, Children with Immune Deficiencies, Paralysis, and Kidney Disease. SUCCESS STORIES OF CALIFORNIA PATIENTS TREATED INCLUDE: • A high school student paralyzed in a diving accident has regained upper body function. • A mother blinded by a genetic disease is regaining her eyesight. • A cure was discovered for a fatal disease that causes children to be born without functioning immune systems. • FDA-approved treatments for two types of fatal blood cancers. Hear from more patients at www.YESon14.com/successes SUPPORTED BY OVER 70 PATIENT ADVOCATE ORGANIZATIONS. A YES vote on Prop. 14 is endorsed by the University of California, NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS, leading patient and medical science advocates, and more than 70 PATIENT ADVOCATE ORGANIZATIONS, including: American Association for Cancer Research • American Diabetes Association • Leukemia & Lymphoma Society • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation • The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research • ALS Association, Golden West Chapter • CURE—Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy • One Mind • Immune Deficiency Foundation • Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement • Alzheimer’s Los Angeles • Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for Paralysis • Cystic Fibrosis Research, Inc. • Arthritis Foundation • Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of California • Foundation for Fighting Blindness • San Francisco AIDS Foundation "Prop. 14 builds on California's progress to date, helping to accelerate medical breakthroughs out of the lab and into clinical trials, where they can help improve and save patient lives." —Dr. Adriana Padilla, Fresno INCREASES PATIENT ACCESS & AFFORDABILITY. Dedicates "The Treatment and Cures Accessibility and Affordability Working Group" experts to dramatically expand access to clinical trials and new therapies, make treatments and cures more affordable for Californians, and provide patients, their families, and caregivers with financial assistance. ECONOMIC AND JOBS RECOVERY STIMULUS. New revenues, economic activity and jobs are generated by this funding that will contribute to California's economic recovery. There are no State bond payments during the first five years; and, supporting California's Stem Cell program will only cost the State an average of less than $5 per person annually. ENSURES STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY. California's Controller chairs The Citizens Financial Accountability Oversight Committee, which reviews independent, financial, and performance audits, of the funding Institute. The Institute complies with California's Open Meeting Act, Public Records Act, and Political Reform Act. Chronic diseases, conditions and injuries are cutting lives short, and costing Californians billions in healthcare costs. We must continue our investment, developing Stem Cell treatments to improve the health and reduce the suffering of millions of Californians. VOTE YES ON 14. IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE OR THE LIFE OF SOMEONE YOU LOVE. www.YESon14.com ANTONI RIBAS, M.D., Ph.D., President American Association for Cancer Research CYNTHIA E. MUÑOZ, Ph.D., MPH, President American Diabetes Association–Los Angeles ROBERT A. HARRINGTON, M.D., Chairman Department of Medicine, Stanford University

🚫 Opposition

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO WASTE BILLIONS In the middle of an economic crisis, with soaring unemployment and budget shortfalls in the tens of billions of dollars, we don’t have money to burn. We simply cannot afford the $5 billion that proponents of Prop. 14 are asking for. And that's on top of the nearly $3 billion this troubled state agency has spent over the past 15 years—with poor results. After "an extensive analysis" of spending by the State agency handing out billions in grants, the San Francisco Chronicle concluded: "The predicted financial windfall has not materialized." Only a few federally approved therapies have resulted. Don't believe the "economic impact" numbers from the proponents of Prop. 14. That "impact" includes: More than $100 million in grants to private companies headquartered in other states. More than $2.4 million in salary over the past decade to the part–time vice chairman of the board, a former California legislator who is neither a doctor nor a medical scientist. Outrageous. PROP. 14 FUNDS A BUREAUCRACY WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS Some have questioned "the integrity and independence" of the state agency overseeing these funds. The Little Hoover Commission branded Robert Klein, the former chairman of the agency’s board, "a lightning rod for calls for more accountability." The Center for Society and Genetics in Berkeley has concluded that none of the flaws in the original stem cell initiative have been addressed in Prop. 14. In fact, they conclude, the problems are even worse. OTHERS CAN DO THIS JOB BETTER The National Institute of Health provides $1.5 billion a year in grants to fund the same type of research. Private investors and companies, including many in California, have made great strides in using stem cells to cure diseases—using private funds, not tax dollars. And don't be misled by the handful of grants this agency has made in recent months to researchers working on COVID–19. It's an obvious attempt—after spending billions on other priorities—to mislead voters in the middle of this pandemic. PROP. 14 MEANS HIGHER TAXES, LAYOFFS—OR BOTH Read the nearby summary, which quotes the estimate by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst: "State costs of $7.8 billion to pay off principal ($5.5 billion) and interest ($2.3 billion) on the bonds." Paying back Prop.14's costs of $7.8 billion could mean huge tax increases—at a time when our economy is on its knees. Or laying off thousands of nurses and other heroes who do the real work of keeping California healthy. VOTE NO ON PROP. 14. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO WASTE BILLIONS VINCENT FORTANASCE, M.D. PATRICK JAMES BAGGOT, M.D.

🚫 San Francisco Chronicle

"As The Chronicle also found, alongside the legitimate but halting progress toward effective therapies to which California has contributed, a whole industry of opportunistic quacks hawking stem cell snake oil has flourished across and beyond the state. That’s not the institute’s fault, but it is a byproduct of the aggressive promotion of theoretical medical treatments directly to the public — and another reason to vote no on Prop. 14."

🤐 The San Diego Union-Tribune

No stance published.

🤐 American Civil Liberties Union SoCal

No stance published.

🚫 Los Angeles Times

"If CIRM needs money for a basic operating budget over the next couple of years, that could be covered by the state’s general fund. The agency still needs to administer already-funded projects and could use that time to discuss a more affordable path forward. Right now, the state has other, more urgent spending priorities"

🚫 The Mercury News

"Prop. 71 was designed to kick-start the research at a time when federal funding was blocked. The hope was to establish California as a major player in what was regarded as a promising field. Now supporters are asking voters in the Nov. 3 election to approve issuing another $5.5 billion of bonds. More bonds should be out of the question. It’s time for California’s stem-cell agency to continue its work as a self-sustaining non-profit or close down and allow federal grants and private business to push the industry forward. Vote no on Proposition 14."

🚫 Orange County Register

"For one thing, times have changed and the original rationale — California doing what the feds wouldn’t — is no longer applicable. For another, private enterprise has taken a bigger interest and stepped up research in this field. For another, Prop. 14 doesn’t resolve a longstanding lack of oversight and accountability. And finally, imposing new costs on residents is hardly merited when most are struggling."

🚫 The Desert Sun

"The use of such public debt, especially post-COVID-19, should be on actual programs that deal with real problems California faces right now. These must be the priority for the voter dime. The medical industrial complex — already flush and which during this pandemic has been raking in billions in accelerated research funding — should be covering this type of investment in tandem with federal government funding."

✅ California Democratic Party

"Continues stem cell research funding to develop treatments and cures for chronic and life-threatening diseases."

🚫 Republican Party

"Worsens California’s Deficit

Prop 14 would worsen California’s deficit by making taxpayers responsible for an additional $5.5 billion to fund stem cell research."