Why the rush to get a useless Combatting Autism Act when we can do better?

[Guest guest]

The Combating Autism Act as passed by the Senate has no money forvaccine research or provisions to include citizens' organizations inresearch oversight, now Rep. Joe Barton wants to take out the minimal amount ofmoney for environmental research, the Centers of Excellence and slashthe total amount of money. Neither version ever contained services for people with autism or their families.But Joe Barton will no longer be a commitee chair in a few shortweeks. Imus this morning suggested that we would be better off if wejust waited until the Democrats get power and then move ahead. Ican't see how the Democrats could propose anything worse than whatis on the table now.Why shouldn't we just say "Thanks, but no thanks," And come back inJanuary when we have a much better chance of gettting a better bill? Why are CAN, Autism Speaks, the Autism Society of

America and other organizations fighting the current Congress for scraps when we could do much better with the new Congress in a few weeks? And if the Barton bill gets passed it will be much harder for us to come back and ask for a decent bill next year. I don't get it. Can someone please expalin this to me?