California's $5.5 Billion Stem Cell Countdown: Campaign Not Likely To Sue for Deadline Extension

Solano County contributed 7,670 signatures this afternoon to the snail-like progress of a $5.5 billion stem cell research proposal towards a virtually assured position on the November ballot.

The measure is aimed at saving the California stem cell agency from fiscal extinction. The 15-year-old program is running out of cash and will begin closing its doors in the fall without more funds. 

Earlier this week, The California Stem Cell Report analyzed the trends in the count, concluding that qualification is in the "virtual bag." 

Today's figures from state officials showed 510,930 verified signatures of registered voters, up from yesterday's 503,260. The campaign is hoping for 685,534. The qualification rate is steady at about 78 percent. If the qualification rate stays fractionally above 67 percent, the measure will be placed on the ballot.  

Only 14 counties out of 58 have not filed their verification numbers.

If the stem call initiative comes up short, it could join the effort to force the state to extend the deadline. Two groups have already sued seeking more time. One effort involves sports betting at Native American casinos. The other involves data privacy. The basic argument is that the Covid-19 crisis seriously and unexpectedly hampered the signature gathering which is constitutionally protected process. 

However, in response to a query, campaign spokeswoman  Sarah Melbostad today said,

"We have been pleased with the validity rates we’ve seen so far and are still confident that we are going to qualify for the November 2020 ballot. We have no plans to join these lawsuits or to file our own."

Look for the next update on the count tomorrow evening or early Saturday on the California Stem Cell Report, your only independent source of information and news about the stem cell agency for the last 15 years.