Schwarzenegger Stops Stem Cell Bill Aimed At Helping The Public!

Much ado in California this past week where the State Assembly of California and the State Senate passed Bill SB1565 which would guarantee "uninsured Californians access to any drug that is, in whole or in part, the result of research funded by the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)".

In other words, this bill would have guaranteed that Californians would get a return(in the form of a cure(s) to a disease) on the taxes they are paying to fund the CIRM. Although I said the bill was passed by the Assembly and Senate, it was all for naught as Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill calling into question his health policy.

Let me take you back a few years to explain. In 2004, embroiled in controversy and hobbled by a lack of promise in their work, embryonic stem cell researchers/companies were starving for funds either private or federal. Enter another option- State Government funding- Billed as a "Cures for California" act, Californians passed Proposition 71, which established the CIRM at a cost of $3-6 Billion.

Since then, the CIRM has been mired in many controversies on where the money has been distributed and is deathly quiet on the issue of when it is going to produce any cure.

In Schwarzenegger's veto message he stated:

"More than seven million voters were very clear when they passed Proposition 71 in 2004. They wanted to fund embryonic stem cell research that the federal government wouldn’t. They also wanted to make sure that California receives a return for its historic investment in medical research. Both of those important goals are already being accomplished.

"This bill does nothing to advance the will of over seven million voters. For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill."

California is already receiving a return on their historic investment?

Well, even the staunchest supporter of the CIRM would be hard pressed to come up with any successful results- I tried Google and the most I could come up with was a few semi famous scientists have migrated to California to live off the tax payer.

In closing, I'd like to stay away from any Terminator quotes from Arnold or quotes from any of his movies to get a cheap laugh as I am a mature adult and consider myself above that nonsense. I just want to say to Arnold and the CIRM " SHOW ME THE MONEY!"