SAN FRANCISCO - The future of embryonic stem cell research could be shaped in a suburban courtroom where two taxpayer groups are challenging the legality of California's new agency dedicated to the controversial field.
Opening statements were scheduled for Monday in a pair of lawsuits seeking to invalidate the law that created the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, which is authorized to hand out $3 billion in research grants. The lawsuits allege — among other things — that it violates a state constitutional mandate that the spending of taxpayer dollars be under state control.
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It doesn't look like they will win, but it will prevent the money from being dispersed for a while. The work will get done. Better to do it here in the states where we have FOIA and other kinds of tools for watchdog groups. If the research goes overseas, who knows what kind of work will get done and who will fund it. But rest assured that it will get done.
