Supreme Court Lets Arizona Clean Money Reform Stand
This month, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal on the constitutionality of Arizona's "clean money" program of publicly financed elections. The decision to let stand an Arizona Supreme Court ruling affirms the legality of the state's funding mechanism and ends five years of legal attack by campaign finance reform opponents. You can learn more about Arizona and other states' political reform efforts in our Campaign Finance Reform section.

Recent Publicity
"Hold to Zero-Emissions Rule"
The Los Angeles Times editorial board advocates for the preservation of California's Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program given all the advances it has made possible. In the context of record gasoline prices and California's inability to meet Federal Clean Air standards, the paper argues that a strong ZEV program is critical to continue the pressure to advance vehicle technology and achieve clean air in California.
Los Angeles Times – Editorial, March 24, 2003
www.latimes.com

"Bush's war on (or with?) nuclear weapons"
Naila Bolus, Executive Director of the Ploughshares Fund, asserts that the Bush Administration has set a dangerous precedent by threatening nuclear attack on non-nuclear states. By changing a long-held international tenet and removing incentives for countries not to pursue weapons development, the Bush administration could spark widespread nuclear proliferation. Additionally, Bolus argues that by aiming to create smaller and more usable nuclear weapons, the United States further lowers the threshold for initiating a nuclear strike.
San Francisco Chronicle – Naila Bolus, March 16, 2003
www.sfgate.com

"Stem Cells Lose Market Luster"
Uncertainty over federal funding and possible legislation outlawing certain forms of scientific research has had a chilling effect on stem cell-related biotechnology, according to this article in Science Magazine. Companies engaging in therapeutic cloning, a promising area of biomedical research, find it difficult to obtain the funding needed to find cures because of the threat of restrictive new laws in Congress.
Science Magazine – Gretchen Vogel, March 25, 2003
www.sciencemag.org

"Arctic saved – for now "
The San Francisco Chronicle editorial board applauds the U.S. Senate for rejecting drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). In a close 52 to 48 vote, the Senate narrowly rejected a proposal that would have opened ANWR to oil exploration. Though the issue has come to a vote several times in the past year, the paper asserts that the fight will continue and environmentalists need to stay alert to future threats.
San Francisco Chronicle – Editorial, March 21, 2003
www.sfgate.com

"Philanthropic Watchdog Issues Critique on Iraq War"
The Board of Directors of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy recently issued a press release expressing its strong concern about the repercussions of the war while communicating the need for support for the troops.
www.ncrp.org

Recent Foundation Grant
The Kirsch Foundation announces the following grant:

Discretionary Grants:

• Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
  
  

March 17 Update:

Council on Foundations Wilmer Shields Rich Awards
On Tuesday, April 29th at the 54th Annual Conference of the Council on Foundations, the Foundation will be presented with Silver Awards for the Public Policy Campaigns and Website categories. Read more about our awards and recognition.

U.S. Senate Ratifies Weak Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty
Despite the efforts of two senior Senators to offer amendments that would have strengthened the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT), the U.S. Senate ratified a weaker version of the treaty on a 95-0 vote on March 6, 2003. SORT is intended to reduce the numbers of U.S. and Russian deployed nuclear warheads to between 1,700 and 2,200 by December 31, 2012. However, SORT does not require actual destruction of nuclear warheads, nor is there a schedule for reductions or a plan for verification and compliance. Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and John Kerry (D-MA) proposed conditions on the Senate floor that were defeated and a number of other expected amendments that would have bolstered the treaty were withdrawn. Ultimately, the Senate approved the SORT, but many arms control advocates and former lawmakers believe that the treaty could become immaterial in time because of its shortcomings. Read more about bilateral and multilateral treaties and the Foundation's thoughts on nuclear disarmament.

California's Zero-Emission Vehicle Program In Jeopardy
This month, California Air Resources Board staff proposed amendments to the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program that would significantly reduce the number of non-polluting vehicles manufactured in California and potentially end the program. The Kirsch Foundation and its environmental colleagues believe that the ZEV program, which catalyzed the introduction of gasoline hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles, should only be amended if it is strengthened. As a result, two of our colleague organizations, American Lung Association and the Union of Concerned Scientists, are encouraging individuals to oppose the amendments by writing online letters to decision makers. You can learn more about the ZEV program in our Environmental Issues section.

Research!America Honors Stem Cell Research Advocates
The Kirsch Foundation congratulates former Senator Connie Mack (R-FL), actor and activist Michael J. Fox, Dr. Paul Berg of Stanford University, Wendy Chaite of the Lymphatic Research Foundation, and the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) – all of whom are recipients of Research!America's 2003 Advocacy Awards. Senator Mack, Mr. Fox, Dr. Berg and ASCB, in particular, have been allies of the Foundation in working to protect embryonic stem cell research, and are commended for their ongoing efforts to safeguard this critical form of medical research.

Grant Programs: Deadlines
The Kirsch Investigator Program is now past its March 14, 2003, deadline for submission of applications. Grants awarded through proposals submitted for this program will be announced by the end of June. For more information about that invitation-only program, please see Kirsch Investigator Awards.

Recent Foundation Grants

February 2003 Archives

• Center for Defense Information
  
• Natural Resources Defense Council
  
  

Silicon Valley Community Grants:

• Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County
  
• Junior Achievement of Santa Clara County
  
• The Tech Museum of Innovation
  
• United Way Silicon Valley
  

Discretionary Grants:

• Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
  
• San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center
  

The leadership she has displayed in the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR), the leading advocate for therapeutic cloning and stem cell research at a national level, where she is a Vice-President of its Board.

Her assumption of additional responsibilities with our nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament work due to the new Arms Control Advocacy Collaborative.

Her continued strategic capabilities with regard to all of our public policy work in California as well as at the national level.

Recent Foundation Grants
The Kirsch Foundation announces the following grants:

Political Reform and Global Theme Grant:

• Center for Innovative Policies
  

Discretionary Grant:

• Global Security Institute
  
  

Recent Publicity
"Presidential Recycling"
The Washington Post editorial board closely examines the fuel cell plan President Bush laid out in his State of the Union address and emphasizes opportunities for improvement. Though fuel cells may become an important technology in the future, the Washington Post argues that they should not obscure nor overshadow debates about pollution and efficiency for the present generation of vehicles on the road.
Washington Post – Editorial, February 9, 2003
www.washingtonpost.com

"Cloning Confusion"
In this American Prospect op-ed, the author, Heidi Pauken, asserts that the two sides of the debate over therapeutic cloning use vastly different terminology when describing somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology. Pauken writes that patient advocates and doctors use scientific language when referring to this form of medical research, while opponents of SCNT use more emotional language to oppose the technology. Though both sides agree a ban on reproductive cloning (to create a human being) should proceed, those who oppose stem cell research have slowed progress on potentially life-saving research by failing to understand the scientific distinction between the types of cloning.
The American Prospect – Heidi Pauken, February 10, 2003
www.prospect.org

Foundation Suspends Two Medically-Related Grants Programs Indefinitely
Due to the decline in the Foundation's assets to approximately $14 million, and our desire to ensure the effectiveness of our work across the spectrum of issues with which we are concerned, the Board of Directors has made the following decisions about our medical grants programs:

• We will complete our multi-year funding commitments to the Catalyst For a Cure (CFC) and the Catalyst for Hair Follicle Biology collaborative projects.
  
• We will complete the Kirsch Investigator (KI) Awards selection process now underway and will honor our financial commitments to the current Investigators and the three new Investigators who will be announced in July 2003. After that, the KI program will be suspended indefinitely.
  
• We have indefinitely suspended the development of new collaborative and other medical research funding. It is quite time-intensive to develop collaborative research and funding arrangements and we lack the financial resources to undertake this effort over the long-term.
  
• We will continue our public policy lobbying efforts to ensure the legality of somatic cell nuclear transfer and the availability of adequate stem cell lines and funding from the Federal government for research related to stem cells. This work is managed by Susan Frank, the Foundation's Director, Public Policy, and represents our continuation of the "cure all diseases" component of our plan.
  
  

The suspension of funding was a very tough decision, and does not reflect any judgment about medical research opportunities. In fact, we believe that the collaborative efforts that we developed represent the new, "best practice" in research and hope that other institutions will undertake similar initiatives.

We believe that these decisions are in the best interest of the Foundation and its ability to work effectively toward our other goals in air quality, nuclear disarmament and political reform. The decision to fund only the current activities and to suspend the programs in terms of new grants will eventually reduce the Foundation's expenditures by approximately $1.3 million per year to slightly less than $3 million. This will enable the Foundation to operate for a longer period of time, albeit with a more limited agenda.

California Environmental Legislative Priorities
For the 2003-2004 legislative session, the Kirsch Foundation will focus its California environmental advocacy on the following goals:

• Preserving funding for the state's critical clean air programs such as the Carl Moyer Fund, an incentive program geared toward cleaning up heavy-duty vehicles and equipment.
  
• Creating new revenue streams to pay for existing clean air and public health programs as well as to finance new projects including clean vehicle rebates and hydrogen infrastructure, with the ultimate goal of reducing the adverse impacts of petroleum products on California residents.
  
• Ensuring strong regulations for California's zero-emission vehicle and greenhouse gas reduction programs.
  
• Working in collaboration with our environmental and public health colleagues on opportunities to decrease air pollution, including legislation examining fuel-efficient tires and improving air quality in the Central Valley.
  
  

Foundation Opposes Amendments to State's Zero-Emission Vehicle Program
California's Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Program continues to be the driving force for the introduction of cleaner vehicle technologies ranging from electric vehicles to gasoline hybrids and fuel cells. For this reason, the ZEV Alliance, a coalition of environmental groups including the Kirsch Foundation, strongly opposes any amendment to the program that weakens its effectiveness. California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff has recommended changes to the ZEV Program that would not require production of any new zero-emission vehicles until approximately 2009. As a result of this staff position, members of the ZEV Alliance sent a letter to CARB's Chairman, Dr. Alan Lloyd, and other board member vigorously opposing the staff recommendations. Learn more about the Foundation's ongoing commitment to maintaining California's ZEV Program.

Recent Foundation Grants
The Kirsch Foundation announces the following grants:

Medical and Scientific Grants:

• Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research
  
• Glaucoma Research Foundation
  
  

• Ploughshares Fund
  

Silicon Valley Community Grants:

• American Musical Theatre of San Jose
  

Recent Publicity
"Smog-Forming Emissions Badly Underestimated, Officials Say"
The California Air Resources Board announced this week that smog emissions from motor vehicles are approximately 30% higher than the state previously thought. As a result, major air pollution districts have been experiencing worse than expected smog and Los Angeles may be unable to meet its federal deadline for clean air.
Los Angeles Times – Gary Polakovic, January 16, 2003
www.latimes.com

"Bush frees cash to secure Soviet arms"
President George W. Bush signed an executive order releasing about $500 million to the former Soviet Union for the purpose of securing weapons of mass destruction. The allocation, previously frozen by Congress, will be used to eliminate stockpiles of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.
USA TODAY – Peter Eisler, January 14, 2003
www.usatoday.com

"Pataki Backs Wind and Solar Power"
New York Governor George Pataki announced he would seek to adopt California's new greenhouse gas emission requirements in his state. In addition, Pataki pushed for an increased renewable portfolio standard for clean electricity production. The new goal would make New York the first state in the union to generate 25% of its energy from completely renewable sources.
New York Times – Peter Eisler, January 9, 2003
www.nytimes.com

"California emissions law now a model. It's cited in major new Senate bill"
The greenhouse gas reduction bill introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators McCain (R-AZ) and Lieberman (D-CT) could signal a pro-environmental shift in national climate policy, if passed. In 2002, California successfully passed AB 1493 (Pavley), which has been credited as a turning point in the fight against global warming and has set the stage for potential federal efforts.
San Francisco Chronicle – Edward Epstein, January 9, 2003
www.sfgate.com

• CLCV Education Fund
  
• Earthjustice
  
• Natural Resources Defense Council
  
• Surface Transportation Policy Project
  

Political Reform and Global Theme Grants:

• Peace and Security Funders Group
  
• Physicians for Social Responsibility
  
• Union of Concerned Scientists
  
  

Silicon Valley Community Grants:

• Community Foundation Silicon Valley
  
• Community Services Agency
  
• Junior Achievement of Santa Clara County
  
• Quest Scholars Program
  
• Second Harvest Food Bank
  
• United Way Silicon Valley
  
  

Discretionary Grants:

• Committee to Bridge the Gap
  
• FIRST
  
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society