The California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative has submitted more than 1,000,000 signatures to the Secretary of State. The organizers seem confident of obtaining a place on the November ballot, which raises some interesting possibilities given the timing of the US presidential election this year and the candidate positions on stem cell research. From the website:

Dear Friends and Supporters ,

We are pleased to announce the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative took an important step forward today, submitting MORE THAN 1,000,000 SIGNATURES to the Secretary of State. After gathering nearly twice as many signatures as needed, our campaign is absolutely confident the stem cell initiative will qualify for the November 2004 ballot.

As many of you know, this important initiative will provide $295 million a year over ten years in critically needed funding to support life-saving stem cell research. The initiative will provide California the necessary financing to develop life-saving cures and treatments for debilitating diseases and injuries, including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's, ALS, osteoporosis and spinal cord injuries.

The promise of stem cell research and cures is a step closer today, largely made possible by a grassroots movement of California residents, disease and patient advocacy groups, doctors, nurses, renown scientists and medical researchers, including prominent Nobel Prize winners, who overwhelmingly support this desperately needed effort. Thank you for your dedication and hard work in making today's announcement possible.

The campaign moves into a new phase today and our supporters' involvement becomes even more critical...building an effective coalition of statewide supporters and helping carry our message to every corner of California.

Please Forward this Announcement to your friends, family and colleagues and ask them to join our coalition today. Given the large number of initiatives that will appear on the November ballot, this support will become even more critical in helping communicate our message.

Thank you, and onward to November.

You'll recall that I, being libertarian by inclination, don't personally support this initiative or indeed any such symptom of large government. I believe that this package of money and regulation, like all packages of money and legislation, will do more harm than good in the long run - but that's my opinion. You, of course, should make your own decisions on these matters: visit the initiative web site to see what they have planned.