Proposition 14 – Stem Cell Research Funding

This coming November, Californians have several Propositions to vote for. Often times these are quite confusing so I thought I would explain this in laymen’s terms.  For what it is worth I will also give my own reasoning on why I support or oppose these Propositions. To see the Propositions in their entirety you can go to www.ballotpedia.org

Proposition 14 Authorizes Bonds to Continue Funding Stem Cell and Other Medical Research.

The ballot initiative would issue $5.5 billion in general obligation bonds for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), which was created to fund stem cell research. In 2004, voters approved Proposition 71. As of October 2019, CIRM had $132 million in funds remaining. On July 1, 2019, CIRM suspended applications for new projects due to depleted funds and is now trying to obtain more State funded Bonds Some of the bond funds would be dedicated, including $1.5 billion for research on therapies and treatments for brain and nervous system diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia.

A Yes Vote will support issuing $5.5 billion general obligation bonds for the state’s stem cell research institute.

A No Vote opposes issuing $5.5 billion general obligation bonds for the state’s stem cell research institute.

My Opinion: A No Vote – Why? This is passing the buck to our kids to pay off even more debt in California. Although, I do agree with the good intentions and the studies that they are performing, but this is the country of Capitalism. Big Pharma has the ability to perform their own studies and there are plenty of Philanthropists to contribute to this cause. Also, I believe that the program would be run much more efficiently in the private sector instead of having an open check at the taxpayer’s expense. California already pays too much in taxes and the people who run our State Government have a knack for wasting it.