Bell to speak at stem cell summit/ Kinky lays out platform

Bell to speak at stem cell summit

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell has accepted an invitation to participate in a roundtable discussion during the second annual national stem cell policy and advocacy summit, to be held at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.
The summit will take place June 11 and is hosted by the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and the Genetics Policy Institute.
“Very few candidates for public office are as knowledgeable and passionate about stem cell research as Chris Bell,” Bernard Siegel, executive director of GPI said. “If Texas is to remain a leader in basic life sciences research and biotechnology, it must have leaders who understand the profound impact of stem cell research on the future of medicine in the 21st Century. Chris Bell is resolutely on the side of patients and cures. We are very proud to have him as a speaker at the summit.”
Bell, a former congressman from Houston will join Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, to focus their discussion on the importance of promoting and protecting stem cell research.
“We need to stop talking about banning stem cell research and start funding it. When Jesus healed the lepers, he didn’t call his pollster,” Bell said. “I believe God gives us the tools of science and technology to help our fellow man. We cannot let politics stand in the way of curing disease and healing the sick. It’s the right thing to do, and now is the time to do it.”
While serving in Congress, Bell lead opposition to HR 534, designed to limit stem cell research and funding. Since then he has joined the Advisory Board of StemPAC, the nation’s leading grassroots stem cell network.

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Friedman announces first portion of platform

Kinky Friedman laid out the first parts of his platform this week.
The first key to his five point platform is a call for political reforms.
“It’s time to bring Texas back to its independent roots,” Friedman said. “This will only happen when we see more candidates appealing to a wider range of voters. Only then will there be more emphasis on bipartisan cooperation and decisions made based on the public – not the party’s – interest.”
Friedman said his reforms address fair ballot access, candidate debates, campaign finance reform, lobbying reform and redistricting reform.
With the reforms Friedman believes all candidates seeking public office in Texas will be able to play on a level playing field.
“Politics is the only field where the more experience you have, the worse you get,” Friedman said. “It’s time to clean house. How much worse does it have to get?”
According to the Friedman campaign, Texas is one of the two most difficult states for a statewide independent candidate or new party to get on the ballot.
Under Friedman’s plan:
– Independent candidates would be placed on the primary ballots of each major party, allowing voters to participate in the party nomination process and having the chance to support an independent candidate’s attempt to be placed on the general election ballot.
– A non-partisan entity would be established to develop and establish a clear criteria for inclusion of all qualified candidates into debates.
– Citizens would be allowed to register and vote on Election Day. According to Friedman’s campaign, states with same day voter registration enjoy a 5 to 25 percent higher voter turnout rate.
– Legislative and statewide candidates who agree to spending limits and reject private contributions would be offered full public financing for their campaigns. The funds would come from surcharges and registration fees on lobbyists.
According to the campaign, increased registration fees and a 10 percent surcharge on lobbying expenditures would provide more than $30 million in funding for Texas legislative and statewide races.
Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, North Carolina and Vermont have each already adopted Clean Money Campaign Reform laws.
– A ban would be placed on any Texas elected official or state employee from becoming a lobbyist in Texas for two years from the time they leave or retire from their state position.
– A non-partisan redistricting commission, similar to the state of Iowa, would be used to reduce unfair partisan redistricting of the state.
“We ought to open up politics to the people,” Friedman told the Associated Press. “You shouldn’t have to be famous or rich to get on the ballot.”
The musician, author and independent candidate is still awaiting official word from the secretary of state that he’ll be on the November ballot but it’s that long process of getting on the ballot that has prompted Friedman to champion political reform in the state.
As independent candidates, Friedman and Texas Comptroller Carole Strayhorn were both required to submit 45,400 signatures from registered voters to qualify for a place on the November ballot.
Both are still awaiting verification of their petitions by the secretary of state.
Friedman is planning to announce the remaining four keys to his platform in the next few weeks.