California Family Minute

by Ron Prentice,
Chief Executive Officer

The California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) reported last week the winners of its second annual poetry contest. Unfortunately, one of the two selected poems blasphemed the words of Jesus Christ in Luke 22:19. The winning poem begins with “This is my body which is given for you” and ends with “Take this in remembrance of me.”

Initially, the winning poems’ words were placed on the 2010 Stem Cell Awareness Day Web site, but were retracted due to the amount of objections. The CIRM later released the following apology: “We are deeply sorry for any offense caused by the poem. Neither the author nor CIRM intended for the language to insult or offend any religious group.” How could they NOT see this language as offensive? Was there no one on this decision-making panel who knew that these words come from scripture, and are used every day in the practice of Christian worship? 

By selection of such a poem, is the CIRM admitting that embryos are human life? Which is worse: denying that embryos are human life, or admitting that embryos are human life but destroying them regardless? If embryos are human life, should more be created for the specific purpose of destroying them? 

In November 2004, 59% of California’s voters passed Proposition 71, establishing the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine.   This initiative approved a bond measure of $3 billion in funding, primarily intended for embryonic stem cell research. With interest, taxpayers will ultimately pay $6 billion for this measure over the course of 10 years. And there is talk of asking the people for more.

However, since the passage of Proposition 71, research has forced more and more scientists and members of the medical community to admit that the use of embryonic stem cells has been a therapeutic bust. See this article from Investors.com regarding the failure of embryonic stem cell research, and the better use of Prop 71’s funds for adult stem cell research. See also this paper on adult stem cell therapeutic successes.

In 2005, a subsidiary of California Family Council – the California Family Bioethics Council, LLC – filed suit against then California State Controller Steve Westly and Robert C. Dynes, then president of the University of California. Represented by Sacramento attorney David Llewellyn, the suit concerned the CIRM’s lack of accountability to the state, and the inherent conflicts of interest between the governing body of the CIRM, called the Independent Citizen’s Oversight Committee (ICOC), and the entities receiving funds. For instance, at that time nine members of the ICOC were affiliated with the University of California. Not surprisingly, of the first training grants disbursed by the ICOC, half of the recipient organizations were affiliated with the University of California. So much for independent.

The suit was first heard by Alameda Superior Court Judge Bonnie Sabraw, who ruled in favor of the CIRM. On appeal, in February 2007 the State Court of Appeal upheld Sabraw’s ruling, and the California Supreme Court declined to consider the case.

However, the questions regarding CIRM’s lack of accountability and conflicts of interest continue. Even the California Legislature has become suspicious of the ICOC’s independence, recently passing legislation that mandates CIRM performance audits and disclosure of ICOC members’ votes and recusals.

Still, the CIRM believes it needs more taxpayer funding. So far, receiving such funding has been easier than convincing private investors, who demand accountability and return on investment.   There are plans underway for another multi-billion dollar bond measure to be put before the people of California in 2016, after the first $3 billion is supposed to have been spent. 

What we know about government-funded organizations is that once they are created, their purpose for existence becomes less important than existence itself.   Should the CIRM seek more taxpayer funding in 2016, perhaps voters will be better informed, and put it to rest.