Consumer Advocates Say Now It Must Act Like One

Santa Monica, CA — The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) today welcomed Judge Bonnie Sabraw’s decision upholding Proposition 71 and said the stem cell committee must use the time during inevitable appeals to implement rules governing ownership of research discoveries that ensure the full public benefit promises of Proposition 71 are met.

John M. Simpson, FTCR’s Stem Cell Project director said:

“Judge Bonnie Sabraw upheld the will of the people of California who voted overwhelmingly in favor of stem cell research.

“The court ruled that the stem cell institute is a state agency. Their challenge now is to truly behave like one. In the court of public opinion, the stem cell institute and the oversight committee have all too often failed that critical test. To win in that court, they must now act to guarantee that the public benefits from its $6 billion investment.

“The verdict will certainly be appealed, delaying the sale of $3 billion in bonds perhaps until next spring. The stem cell committee must use that time to implement rules governing ownership of research discoveries to ensure the full public benefit promises of Proposition 71 are met.”

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The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights is California’s leading non-profit and non-partisan consumer watchdog group. For more information visit us on the web at: http://www.ConsumerWatchdog.org. Our stem cell information page is at located at: http://www.stemcellwatch.org/.