California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced in October 2004 that he was backing Proposition 71, a ballot measure that would authorize $3 billion in state bonds to finance embryonic stem cell research. The decision placed him at odds with President George W. Bush and the conservative core of the Republican Party.
Bush had blocked federal funding for research on new stem cell lines in 2001, turning the issue into a fault line ahead of the November presidential election. His Democratic rival, John Kerry, had come out in favor of using federal money for such work.
Under Proposition 71, California would issue bonds over 10 years and allocate roughly $295 million annually to scientists studying potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. Voters were scheduled to weigh in on the measure on 2 November, coinciding with the presidential poll.
Schwarzenegger's endorsement extended a pattern of departures from party positions. He had already declared support for abortion rights and same-sex marriage, signed legislation broadening domestic partnership benefits for gay couples, and approved a program providing free needles to drug users to reduce HIV transmission.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in October 2004, in its own words.