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McClintock's Unbroken Opposition to Stem Cell Research is Reason Enough to Vote for Garamendi for California Lt. Governor
By Frank D. Russo
By now, most of you reading the California Progress Report know about the extremely conservative views and record of Tom McClintock, the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor. He is opposed to any efforts in areas such as global warming and we reported yesterday that he received a zero percent rating from the California League of Conservation Voters, a very well respected organization that publishes an annual report card.
Probably, like most Californians, you are not paying much attention to this race. You may not know about his record on stem cell research and the important role that the Lieutenant Governor plays in implementing or thwarting the implementation of Prop 71 passed by the voters.
Yesterday, a number of stem cell research leaders, public health leaders, and disabled individuals assembled with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom express their unanimous, enthusiastic support for John Garamendi for Lieutenant Governor and their concern about Tom McClintock’s candidacy and his record as a staunch, outspoken opponent of Stem Cell Research.
Tom McClintock was the leading opponent of Proposition 71, signing the official ballot argument against it. He actively campaigned against it, calling it a “self-serving sham.” But why does this matter to those who care about this issue now? Because the next Lieutenant Governor gets to appoint up to five members of the Independent Citizen's Oversight Committee that the California Stem Cell Research and cures Bond Act known as Prop 71. They are mortified over what havoc he can wreak on this program that is just getting underway and has promise to find cures for diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, and many other diseases.
“San Francisco and the entire Bay Area are leading the march of medical progress toward new cures through stem cell research,” said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. “But Stem Cell Research opponent Tom McClintock poses an all-too-real threat to the future of medical progress in California.”
Holding signs proclaiming “Yes on Stem Cell Research! No on Tom McClintock!” advocates pledged to fan out across the state in the remaining eight days before the election, raising awareness of Tom McClintock’s unapologetic record as an opponent of Stem Cell Research.
Robert Klein, Chair of the Proposition 71 Campaign, and a father of a child with juvenile diabetes, said:
Tom McClintock represents the far right extreme opposition to stem cell research. If he has five appointments, it will damage the future of stem cell research in California. Jophn Garamendi represents the champions of stem cell research. He was one the first people in California to endorse Prop 71. He is absolutely a great leader for this state and the nation for stem cell research.We're in the race against disease. We cannot afford patients to be crippled by individuals who refuse and reject science and the future of medicine. If in fact, here in San Francisco, the last great breakthrough in medicine, recombinant DNA, had been shut down as the far right then asked we would not have had the discovery in UC San Francisco through recombinant DNA research which brought us artificial insulin to keep my son alive and millions around the world. That led to a hundred critical heart and cancer therapies.
Dr. Anthony Iton, M.D., Alameda County Health Officer, and David Ames, a leading patient advocate, also spoke on Garamendi’s behalf.
Here is McClintock's record, in addition to his opoposition to Proposition 71:
He voted against SCR 55 (Ortiz), declaring the societal and economic value of Stem Cell Research and establishing a panel to advise the Legislature on Stem Cell Research (Senate Vote: 8/30/02, Chaptered: 9/11/02).
He voted against SJR 38 (Ortiz), calling on the President and Congress to reject legislation that impedes the progress of science by impeding Stem Cell Research (Senate Vote: 8/30/02, Chaptered: 9/11/02).
He abstained from several votes on landmark Stem Cell Research legislation, including Senate Bills 1272 (5/2/02), 253 (8/30/02), 771 (6/4/03), and 322 (9/11/03), all by Senator Ortiz. In fact, Tom McClintock has never voted, despite numerous opportunities, for any bill making it easier for Stem Cell Research to be conducted in California.
There are many state bodies that the Lieutenant Governor of California sits on and can vote and influence results on education and the environment. But we owe those who suffer from conditions that can be helped with science and medicine to make sure we vote and get others to vote for John Garamendi. It will make a difference, if not in your live at the moment, in the lives of family members and friends. This issue and this race is reason enough by itself to go to the polls and vote. It is that important.
Comments
Day 123 without ANY income – October 31, 2006
Today, I’ve written a personal letter to John Garamendi the Insurance Commissioner in California. On October 3, 2005 he fined the UnumProvident Corp. $8M and court ordered them to re-assess more than 26,000 other unfair denied claims in the State of California.
To be VERY CLEAR, I truly respect and admire John Garamendi. This man has achieved a tremendous amount of positive changes to the Insurance Industry and obviously, as someone with Multiple Sclerosis, I am personally looking for Leaders who support stem cell technology. He does. I trust John Garamendi will be very successful with his campaign to become Lt. Governor of California on November 7, 2006.
Getting back to the point here, the $8M fine imposed was for the exact same bad-faith conduct and illegal business practices the UnumProvident Corp. has now committed against me. Garamendi demanded UnumProvident refrain from using similar despicable tactics against any other genuine people.
Has UnumProvident’s business conduct actually changed? NO, very clearly it has NOT!
Despite the fine imposed and Garamendi’s very serious threat to revoke their trading license; very clearly this FINE and WARNING were not sufficient to deter UnumProvident from committing further abuse of innocent people and continuing to display a total disregard of the law.
Sadly, nothing has actually changed over the past 12 month period.
Garamendi has less than 6 days left in his current role of Insurance Commissioner California. Please take just a few minutes to ask Insurance Commissioner Garamendi to make good on his promise to immediately BOOT UnumProvident out of California.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060905/sftu091.html?.v=73
http://www.stopunum.com/press_info/GARAMENDIltr090506.pdf
Please visit www.stopunum.com
Many thanks
Laura
Marina del Rey
California
Posted by: Laura Torrance-Nesbitt at October 31, 2006 11:06 PM
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