Proposition 38
Borrow $8.4 billion for immunology research
Proposition 38 would create an $8.4 billion bond largely to fund research into fighting cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s, plus other diseases that can be treated through immunotherapies. Half the money would go to a research institute affiliated with the University of California. The other half would be distributed to select public universities and nonprofits. Drugs created through this research would have to be discounted at 20% for Californians and 10% of any revenue from the drugs would go back to the state general fund.
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Summary
Support
Supporters say the potential for cures through immunotherapies is huge because most diseases involve the immune system. They say the funding is needed because the Trump administration has tried to cut funding for federal health science research.
Oppose
Critics fault the measure for focusing on just one subset of biomedical research rather than supporting a wider array of health research. They also question whether the research that might emerge from this fund can produce commercial drugs, given how hard it is to get a drug approved and bring it to market. They also question why just one nonprofit stands to receive half of the money.
People and organizations
Support
- American Association of Immunologists
- California Democratic Party
- City of Hope
- Michelson Center for Public Policy
Oppose
- Robert Kaplan, senior scholar at Stanford
- No on 38
- Orange County Register Editorial Board
Campaign finance
Proposition committees raise money to support or oppose propositions. Outside groups can also raise and spend money independently to influence outcomes.
- Proposition committees
- Outside spending
- Difference to other side
Support
Oppose
Proposition committees
These committees are primarily formed to campaign for or against a proposition. They must identify donors who give $100 or more. There are no limits on how much donors can give. Below, we exclude donors whose contributions total less than $100.
Support
Oppose
Outside spending
Separate from proposition committees, outside groups can pay for ads, mailers and other efforts to influence voters. They can’t coordinate that spending with proposition committees. There is no limit on how much they can spend.
Support
Oppose
Ballot text
AUTHORIZES BONDS FOR IMMUNOLOGY MEDICAL RESEARCH. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Authorizes $8.4 billion in general obligation bonds for immunology and immunotherapy research, half to a single University of California-affiliated nonprofit medical research institute, half to research grants. Fiscal Impact: Increased state cost of $500 million to $600 million annually for about 20 years to repay the research bond, with some or all of the cost offset if the funded research generates revenue.
Source: California Secretary of State
