California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

AFTER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH placed restrictions on stem cell funding, federal funding was restricted to adult cells and a few embryonic lines that were described by scientists as being of poor quality and unfit for research. California backers of stem cell research forced an election on proposition 71, which established a 10—year, $3 billion stem cell program. Proponents included patients, scientists, and industry. Opponents included the Roman Catholic Church, budget watchers, and conservatives.

On November 2, 2004, California voters authorized the sale of $3 billion in bonds to fund stem cell research at the state's universities and research facilities. Two months earlier, the voters were split, but late in the campaign, sentiment shifted significantly, and less than 40 percent of the voters opposed—even Governor Arnold ...