Several years ago, when I first became interested in autism, the Federal government provided about $5 million per year for autism research. This year, it will provide more than $75 million. What has caused that 1,500% increase?
There are a number of factors, of course. The increase in incidence of autism has overloaded the education system and caused alarm in the public health community. Greater organization of parents and other persons interested in autism has helped. Celebrities such as Doug Flutie have made a contribution. The Clinton administration was amenable to the arguments for increased funding. All of those factors helped increase the funding but they are not the whole story.
One factor that is often overlooked is that one member of the House of Representatives was relentless in his efforts to increase autism funding, That person, of course, is Republican Representative Dan Burton of Indiana.
Rep. Burton and I disagree about most every issue. He was a leader of the anti-Clinton forces in the House (he once called President Clinton a “scumbag” on national television. Can you imagine the reaction of the right wing and its media cohorts if Nancy Pelosi had called George Bush a “scumbag” instead of simply stating that he is incompetent as President?).
Despite my differences with Burton, I have to admire his work on autism issues. He has been a tireless advocate for the autism community. The increases in autism funding are due, in no small part, to his determination and skill.
Why has Representative Burton been so good on autism issues? Once again, I am sure there are a lot of reasons but the fact that he has an autistic grandson surely must be at the top of the list.
The lesson of Representative Burton's success at increasing funding for autism research is that having one person in a legislative body who is knowledgeable about autism and who has a deep personal interest in the subject can make a world of difference.
We have the opportunity to help Mary Beth Williams win a seat in the Maine legislature. Mary Beth will not only be a great representative for her district and for all of Maine but her election will guarantee that at least one person who understands autism issues and who cares about those issues will be in the room when decisions about autism policy are made. As the Burton example shows, having one such member in the legislature can make all the difference for the autistic kids of Maine.
Mary Beth has a little over a week until her primary. Her opponent, apparently, has her at a financial disadvantage. It is time for our community, the autism community, to close ranks, step up, and close the gap. Click the link on the right. Make a donation to Mary Beth’s campaign. Make sure that the autistic kids of Maine have a voice in the legislature. Do it now
Bill Clinton put a cigar into a young girl while his wife and daughter were at church. Good, moral people are OBLIGATED to call him a scumbag. As a society, we MUST judge such behavior in order to discourage its practice. While I also don't agree with Burton on many issues, I applaud his efforts to restore DECENCY to our oval office
Posted by: James at May 31, 2004 02:26 AMOf course, when pretty much all the Republicans in Congress leading the charge were subsequently busted (except for Newt, who had left previously on the arm of the lady he cheated on wife number two with and subsequently made her wife number three) for their own sexual escapades and were driven out of their party in disgrace by you righteous people who elected them into office, there was no-one left to save the country and the whole thing sorta died down.
I find it sort of reassuring that this is still such a hot-button issue to you people. Sorta confirms my suspicion that the intervening three years haven't given you anything else that makes you feel as if you're on the right side.
Posted by: julia at May 31, 2004 03:38 PMI sent my donation this afternoon. Thanks for the reminder.
On another topic, I saw your name mentioned in an article (Poetry of Popular Patter) in Monday's LA Times. Your alliteration, "Karl and Condi in cuffs?" ended the article. It made me smile.
Posted by: Lynn at June 1, 2004 01:59 AMGreat...Dan burton has an autistic grandson, so he's willing to slide a little and toss some change to that ONE "liberal" issue. Nancy Reagan has a husband with Alzheimer's, so she supports that ONE "liberal" issue of using stem cells to research livesaving methods of treatment.
Got schizophrenia, epilepsy, lupus, etc? Let's see if we can find an influential GOP-er with a close relative afflicted with that disease...whoops, sorry. Guess you'll have to liquidate your retirement and the kids' college funds and sell your car to get treatment.
It's just the same cronyism as they peddle in all other areas of government, only this time it's for narrow afflictions of the body and/or mind rather than narrow business interests. A pox on both of them.
Don't be fooled by these crumbs, Dwight. Don't get bought with lip service that won't even result in a couple of dollars per kid. Please.
Burton just dug up an acorn, is all. An acorn about the size of a grandson.
Oh, and James: Shut up.
Posted by: Kathy at June 1, 2004 11:44 AMI had the pleasure of meeting Dan Burton at an Autism confrence last year. He is smart, dedicated, and passionate about austim awareness and funding. He not only pushes funding, but continues to question his Republican colleagues on their connections to pharmaceutical companies, and vaccine litigation. He has done more than make a few speeches, he is out their fighting the fight. In my humble opinion, it's good to have a Republican on a team full of democrats.
Posted by: Brenna at June 1, 2004 08:09 PM