Campaign Spending on Stem Cell Ballot Initiative Soars

Campaign spending reports show spending on the stem cell initiative will dwarf campaign spending for any other ballot issue in Missouri history and already is half-again as much money as is being spent on Missouri’s U.S. Senate campaign. The reports show the Talent-McCaskill race has raised almost $20-Million. But more than $30-Million has been raised for the stem-cell initiative issue – 95 percent of it to support the proposal. Backers have raised almost $28.75-Million dollars. Opponents have raised about a million-and-a-half dollars. The Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, supporting the initiative, says more than 500 people have contributed – but admits 97 percent of the organizations funding comes from two people – Jim and Virginia Stowers, founders of the Stowers Institute for medical research in Kansas City.