According to the NYT, Massachusetts has started a new research program that will provide $1 billion over 10 years (@$16 per person per year) to finance stem cell research. The article does not tell readers what will happen to the patents that result from this research. This is a big issue. If the researchers or the companies that carry through the research are allowed to keep the patents, then Massachusetts has just announced a big give away to these people and corporations. While biomedical researchers and corporations are undoubtedly quite worthy, it's not clear that they need public subsidies more than the custodians and waitresses who pay the taxes. The article should have told readers whether this funding proposal is yet another welfare program for the wealthy.
--Dean Baker
