Calif. Stem Cell Plan Gets Reagan-Era Aide Backing

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Calif. Stem Cell Plan Gets Reagan-Era Aide Backing

Tue Oct 12, 8:32 PM ET

Health - Reuters

By Leonard SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Shultz, Secretary of State during the Reagan administration, voiced support on Tuesday for California's initiative to float a $3 billion bond issue to fund stem cell research.

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"I have lots of friends I respect and who are proven scientists and innovators. They are wildly excited about what may be discovered," Shultz, now a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, told a forum on the research, which uses cells taken from human embryos.

"I don't see anything wrong with California taking this up," Shultz said.

The question of stem cell research, a divisive issue in the U.S. presidential campaign, received heightened notice with the death on Sunday of "Superman" actor Reeve, an advocate for spinal cord and stem cell research since he was paralyzed in a riding accident nine years ago.

When former President Reagan (news - web sites) died, his son Ron and widow spoke in support of lifting federal restrictions on the use of human embryos. The Reagans believe stem cell research could have helped find a cure for the former president's Alzheimer's disease (news - web sites).

The California ballot measure, which goes before voters on Nov. 2, would sell tax-exempt bonds to set up the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and fund 10 years of stem-cell research in the state.

The money would dwarf other U.S. public funding for the research. Republican President Bush (news - web sites) disapproves of the use of human embryos as a source of stem cells and in 2001 sharply limited federal spending on research involving stem cells taken from human embryos.

Democratic presidential candidate Kerry (news - web sites) supports research on stem cells.

Critics say the cost of the California initiative is too high.

California State Sen. Tom McClintock (news - web sites), a Republican, called the proposal "a $3 billion gift handed out to biotechnology companies around the world" and said the bonds could lead to further deterioration of California's weak credit rating.

A California Field Poll issued Sunday showed Prop. 71 is backed by 46 percent of likely voters and opposed by 39 percent.

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