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Supporters claim that the measure does permit the funding of adult stem cell research. But they don't mention that Proposition 71 explicitly requires that funding "priority" be given to areas of research that the federal government doesn't fund, meaning human cloning research, or which has policy limitations, meaning embryonic stem cell research. So in the [California state] constitution, priority would have to be given to funding these most controversial areas of research, since the federal government abundantly finances research into adult stem cells and other nonembryonic sources, such as stem cells found in umbilical cord blood.

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Related Elsewhere:

More on Wesley J. Smith is available from the Discovery Institute.

Christianity Today's Life Ethics page has more on stem cells, including:

Weblog: Britain Starts Cloning | Send in the clones (Aug. 12, 2004)

When Does Personhood Begin? | And what difference does it make? (June 18, 2004)

Cloning Report Breeds Confusion | Does it open the door to 'therapeutic cloning'? (May 13, 2004)

A Law That Shouldn't Be Cloned | New Jersey legalizes human cloning for research (Feb. 10, 2004)

Federal Funds Approved to Study Fetal Stem Cells | Life ethics advocates troubled by the discrepancy that allows days-old embryos more protection than more mature fetuses. (July 10, 2002)

Two Cheers | President Bush's stem-cell decision is better than the fatal cure many sought. (Aug. 10, 2001)

Britain Debates Cloning of Human Embryos | Scientists want steady stream of stem cells for "therapeutic" purposes. (Nov. 22, 2000)

Beyond the Impasse to What? | Stem-cell research may not need human embryos after all. But why are we researching in the first place? (Aug. 18, 2000)

Articles elsewhere on Proposition 71 include:

Calif. Voters Divided on Stem Cell Research | Voters in California are almost evenly divided on a ballot measure that could approve state funding for stem cell research, according to a poll released on Sunday. (Reuters, Aug 15, 2004)

Stem cell issue shows partisan division | Voters are sharply divided on a $3 billion bond issue on the November ballot to fund stem cell research, according to a statewide Field Poll. (San Diego Union Tribune, August 15, 2004)

Stem Cell Debate Is Getting Personal | It's not a religious thing. I respect everyone's faith, but this is for humanity. If they think we're killing people, I say, 'You're killing me.' " (Dana Parsons, Los Angeles Times, August 13, 2004)

Governor in tight political spot on stem cells | Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appears to be in a tight political spot over Proposition 71, a bond measure that would provide $3 billion for human embryonic stem cell research in California. (Associated Press, Aug. 06, 2004)

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August (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48