Vote opens up new funding
BY CYNTHIA LEE
UCLA Today Staff
Despite the chasm that divided the nation over the presidential
race, election 2004 brought together a majority of California voters
in support of some important issues that will have consequences
for UC and UCLA.
For one, California voters passed Proposition 61, which authorizes
the state to issue $750 million in general obligation bonds to fund
grants to children’s hospitals. Under the funding formula,
UC’s five children’s hospitals, including Mattel Children’s
Hospital at UCLA, will receive a total of $150 million.
“That’s fantastic news for the children of California,”
said Edward McCabe, executive chair of the Department of Pediatrics
and physician-in-chief of the hospital. “What that says to
me is that voters recognize that children are very special, a segment
of the population with underserved needs that too often gets lost
in the health-care system.”
While it’s not yet clear how the $150 million will be divided,
McCabe said he hopes some of the money will be used to equip the
new Mattel replacement hospital for children.
With the passage of Proposition 71, the initiative to fund stem
cell research in California, UC is expected to play a major role
in two ways. President Robert C. Dynes pledged that UC will work
hard to contribute to the success of the initiative, “both
by participating in its governance, and, we hope, by conducting
some significant part of the research.”
The state will issue tax-free bonds to provide an average of $295
million a year over 10 years (for a total of $3 billion) to support
stem cell research at California universities, medical schools and
privately funded research groups.
Each of UC’s five medical campuses will appoint one representative
to a newly created 29-member oversight commission that will set
research standards and allocate grants. UC is also eligible to fill
as many as two of the four slots designated for representatives
of California universities.
While no one knows how much research funding will come UC’s
way, “We believe that UCLA, UC San Francisco and perhaps UC
San Diego will be primary competitors for this funding,” said
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Government and Community Relations
Keith Parker.
There is significant stem cell research already being conducted
at UCLA, noted Jerome Zack, professor of hematology and oncology/microbiology,
immunology and molecular genetics at the David Geffen School of
Medicine. Zack is working on adult blood-forming stem cells. Proposition
71 funding “could very well support this kind of research.
It would be beneficial to study stem cells at all levels.”
In the area of mental health, voters approved Proposition 63, imposing
a 1% tax on taxable income over $1 million to fund additional county
mental health services, among others. This infusion of funds will
give UCLA psychiatrists the opportunity to build on a partnership
they forged with the county five years ago, said psychiatrist Milton
H. Miller, professor emeritus of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences
and deputy director of the county’s mental health department.
UCLA’s research strength to evaluate program outcomes and
ability to train mental health professionals could aid this expansion.
Another election outcome, the passage of Proposition 1A to amend
the state constitution to prevent state raids on local government’s
share of sales taxes, local property taxes and vehicle license fee
revenues, may affect UC indirectly. “It could reduce the ability
of the Legislature to reallocate funds by keeping that money in
local government’s control,” Parker explained.
While several friends of UCLA and officials who have had contact
with the university won seats in the Assembly, the election did
nothing to change the balance of power in the Assembly and the Senate,
Parker said. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will again need Democratic
support to pass the state budget in 2005, and the debates over spending
cuts versus tax increases will likely continue.
“There is clearly a need, and hopefully the motivation and
opportunity, to break the gridlock and work in a more bipartisan
way on the issues that confront California,” Parker said.
UCLA Staff Assembly is inviting all to hear more from Parker about
the election on Nov. 12 at noon at the Faculty Center. To reserve
a seat, e-mail sgamble@cts.ucla.edu.
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