President Vetoes Bill That Includes Support for Autism
President Bush has vetoed the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill—the “Democrats’ top-priority domestic spending bill,” as noted in tonight’s Washington Post. The Autism Society of America (ASA) outlined autism funding included in the bill:
• $37 million for autism public awareness and early intervention
• $16.5 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to use toward surveillance and research
• $1 million to reinstate the Inter-Agency Autism Coordinating Committee, which would develop a strategic plan for autism research at the National Institutes of Health.
The President has signed a $459 billion annual Defense Department spending bill which increases the Pentagon’s budget 9.5 percent, for funding “operations other than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
As the ASA noted last week, President Bush “vowed to veto the bill because it asks for $9.8 billion more than his budget proposal.”
Autism Bulletin has more commentary.
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POSTED IN: Legislation, Money, Politics
15 opinions for President Vetoes Bill That Includes Support for Autism
chaoticidealism
Nov 14, 2007 at 12:22 am
Honestly, I’m kind of glad. All that emphasis on “early intervention” just means more kids stuck in ABA. I’d like to see a bill aimed at helping autistic adults for a change–we do grow up, though apparently the government thinks we just vaporize at the age of 18. There are so many parents who are petrified about what will happen to their autistic child when they’re too old to care for them… and with good reason; quality assistance is hard to find, and checks and balances against abuse not nearly adequate.
almond
Nov 14, 2007 at 12:52 am
Is that the same spending bill that was going to forbid any federal money from going toward thimerosal-containing vaccines?
Schwartz
Nov 14, 2007 at 1:47 am
I honestly do not know what to think (I live in Canada, but American policies often affect us here).
The politics around American bills can be very complex, with all sorts of little riders and clauses that have nothing to do with the bulk of the bill.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Nov 14, 2007 at 2:16 am
From the Washington Post—Bush complained “that it is too expensive and is larded with pork.”
Regan
Nov 14, 2007 at 6:35 am
Let’s see, pork such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program, IDEA Part B State Grants, Vocational Education State Grants, Reading First (which in fact took a 60% cut), Administration on Aging.
Etc.
Good (sarcasm) to see GW is taking such a hard line on fiscal responsibility after approving another military spending bill which he himself admits has some overcost line items.
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Nov 14, 2007 at 10:05 am
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Kristina Chew, PhD
Nov 14, 2007 at 10:11 am
Some of my students have very strong views (pro) for the war but they didn’t have the best sense of what else is at stake. So we had a lively discussion yesterday.
the ASMan
Nov 14, 2007 at 10:30 am
Wow students with sense.
I was wronged by my college professors for bing pro reagan when I was in college. In their mind , iit was sign for a) being stupid b) or just plain evil.
these kids have no future in academia.
Mika
Nov 14, 2007 at 11:33 am
I am non-partisian. I do not support the war.
I support our troops and all veterans.
This veto does not suprise me. This administration has failed to support our own citizens.
Our military budget is out of control.
Kristina, I think it was great you created dialogue. Dialogue is so important in conflict.
passionlessDrone
Nov 14, 2007 at 12:21 pm
“Some of my students have very strong views (pro) for the war but they didn’t have the best sense of what else is at stake. So we had a lively discussion yesterday.”
LOL! I know how to change their mind. Start a draft without any types of deferments and have them spend a year in Bagdad. The army has been lowering standards and failing to meet recruiting goals; why aren’t these able bodied hawks in boot camp?
Take care!
- pD
the ASMan
Nov 14, 2007 at 12:54 pm
In reference to passionlessDrone,
I proclaim there is no greater glory than to die for your country, somebody like would bristle and immediately exclaim the above. I should go Iraq. etc They then act triumphant as if they proved something. If I exclaimed that childbirth was glorious and something to be praised. Those same people wouldnt ask me to get pregnant and shove a rather large object through a small opening.
I would argue that in as much I cant pregnant from “my nature” those students who are your class cannot (do not is the same can not for me) go to Iraq doesnt invalidate their beliefs.
passionlessDrone
Nov 14, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Hi theASMan -
Your response has left me a little confused.
Pregnancy potential is mandated by biology; signing up for the Army is not. What is keeping Kristina’s students from going to Iraq?
Take care!
- pD
the ASMan
Nov 14, 2007 at 1:53 pm
I dont what is keeping them. You would have to ask them.
Your assumption is flawed. Overweight can keep one from service as does poor sight. Also paralysis or missing limb can do it as well. etc.
the ASMan
Nov 14, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Here is a better response, you assume that an attribute that is inheres due to my biology that I was given is a constraint that is unsurmountable. For example as say I never wrote a novel. But I think that if I never wrote that novel how is it any less real a characterization than that if I cant get pregnant due to biology.
all of it is me. it defines me.
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Nov 17, 2007 at 4:38 pm
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