¦ October 7, 2008
California Governor Schwarzenegger Vetoes SB1565
reprinted from American for Cures

On Monday, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 1565 (Kuehl/Runner) with this message to the legislature: "To the Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 1565 without my signature.  This bill undermines the express intent of Proposition 71 in two ways: it eliminates the priority for funding human embryonic stem cell research and it places an unnecessary restriction on the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee authority to adopt intellectual property regulations that balance patient need and essential medical research.  More than seven million voters were very clear when they passed Proposition 71 in 2004. They wanted to fund embryonic stem cell research that the federal government wouldn't. They also wanted to make sure that California receives a return for its historic investment in medical research. Both of those important goals are already being accomplished.  This bill does nothing to advance the will of over seven million voters. For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill.  Sincerely, Arnold Schwarzenegger"

This was a tremendous victory for stem cell research initiatives. It kept California's preference for embryonic stem cell research intact - preventing the opposition from claiming that California had turned away from this promising research. It kept the flexibility necessary to engage private industry in the quest for cures.