Breaking NewsSponsored by The Sullivan Auto Group
Subscribe: Home Delivery Special!
Editorial: Chiang takes a look
Finally, scrutiny for stem cell institute
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, November 29, 2007
Story appeared in EDITORIALS section, Page B6
Why is California's quasi-public stem cell research institute mired in questions over expenditures and backdoor lobbying? Part of the blame falls to the state's lawmakers and constitutional officers, who have failed to conduct proper oversight of this $3 billion agency.
Created by voters in 2004, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has the worthy mission of finding cures for diseases and advancing basic biological science. But because of the way this institute was structured through Proposition 71, its management is rife with potential conflicts. It also is shielded from the kind of financial scrutiny that is required of comparable agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health.
For nearly three years, this page has called for state leaders to exercise appropriate oversight of this agency. The results have been disappointing. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has largely pandered to institute chair Robert Klein, who wrote Proposition 71. Legislative leaders have similarly ignored their fiduciary duties.
This week, Controller John Chiang signaled that he intends to chart a different course. On Tuesday, he announced plans to lead an audit of the stem cell institute and its conflict of interest standards.
In a separate action, Chiang asked the Fair Political Practices Commission to investigate an apparent ethical breach by one of the 29 members of the institute's oversight board.
Members of the institute board are strictly prohibited from trying to influence a grant that could benefit their particular universities or employers. Yet at the urging of Klein, one of these board members – John Reed of the Burnham Institute – wrote and tried to get the stem cell institute to reinstate a $638,000 grant that had been denied to a Burnham-affiliated researcher.
California's controller retains broad powers not just to audit the finances of a state agency, but examine its performance and compliance with state laws. Although Chiang may face political pressure to limit the scope of his audit, he shouldn't shirk from his duty to taxpayers.
Unique content, exceptional value. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Most Popular
More Stories in Opinion
News |
Sports |
Business |
Politics |
Opinion |
Entertainment |
Lifestyle |
Travel |
Blogs |
Cars |
Homes |
Jobs |
Classifieds/Shopping
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site Map | Advertise | Guide to The Bee | Bee Jobs | FAQs | RSS
Contact Us | e-edition | Subscribe | Manage Your Subscription | E-newsletters | Sacbeemail | Archives
sacbee.com | Sacramento.com | Capitol Alert | SacMomsClub.com | SacPaws.com | SacWineRegion.com
Copyright © The Sacramento Bee
2100 Q St. P.O. Box 15779 Sacramento, CA 95816 (916) 321-1000