New Polls Show California Stem Cell Research Proposition Will Likely Pass 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 22, 2004
Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com) — Given the millions of dollars proponents have spent touting the proposal, it’s no surprise that two new polls show a $6 billion dollar measure to fund embryonic stem cell research has a healthy lead.
Surveys by the Public Policy Institute of California and the Los Angeles Times show Proposition 71 receiving a majority support from California residents, despite worries that it will continue to erode an already tenuous California economy.
According to the Times survey, 53 percent of likely voters favor the measure that would cost taxpayers billions of dollars while only 34 percent oppose it.
The Public Policy Institute poll found 50 percent of likely voters support the proposal while 39 percent oppose it.
The two surveys follow polls conducted by the Field Poll which have shown movement in favor of Proposition 71 thanks to the multimillion dollar advertising campaign proponents have waged.
That’s in comparison to the paltry sums of money opponents have had. Groups such as pro-life organizations, the Republican Party, the California Nurses Association and the Catholic church oppose the measure but have been underfunded.
The proposal also got a boost this week when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gave it his blessing. His endorsement was strongly criticized by opponents of the destructive research.
"The state’s borrowing is already completely out of control," state Sen. Tom McClintock (R) told the Los Angeles Times. "This measure makes our future problems substantially worse. It might be highly commendable, but it is wildly irresponsible."
Tod Tamberg, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, said the governor was too quick to back the research and should have given more though to the ethical concerns.
Tamberg said the billions could be better spent on helping to provide health care for California residents.
According to the California Field Poll earlier in the month, support for Proposition 71 increased to a 46 to 39 percent margin from a 45 to 42 percent margin in August.
Related web sites:
Proposition 71 Voters’ Guide – https://www.noon71.us
California Catholic Conference – https://www.cacatholic.org/stemcell.html
