Tom Walker/Washington D.C. Bureau

Washington D.C., Jan. 20 - This week the senate is expected to pass a huge catch-all spending bill. A small part of it will resolve an issuethat sparked a nasty fight over what some believe was a blatant political payoff to the pharmaceutical industry, and Eli Lilly and Company in particular.

The controversy has festered since the closing days of the last congress when republicans slipped into a Homeland Defense bill a provisionallowing Lilly to escape lawsuits relating to its production of thimerosol, a vaccine ingredient some believe causes autism in children.

Democrats like Senator Tom Daschle, were outraged. "This legislation will wipe out, eliminate the access to courts by families who have been injured."

The complaints grew so loud republicans finally agreed to strike the language when they came back this year.

Parents carrying pictures of their autistic children have been on Capitol Hill insisting lawmakers follow through, staging a rally in front of 300 empty chairs representing children suffering from the debilitating disorder.

"They are silent, alone, scared and in intolerable pain." April Oakes is convinced her daughter's death four years ago was vaccine-related. "Life has not been, or ever will be, the same again. Please appreciate that special personality and realize that you have been truly blessed with a gift. I'm so sorry."

Lilly says the change in the law shielding it from liability was not the company's doing, but believes it's a good idea.

And some argue pharmaceutical companies being asked to develop vaccines for the war on terrorism should have some protection.

But activists insist the courthouse door should not be closed. Among them is Indianapolis Congressman Dan Burton who says autism has ruined his own grandson's life. "My grandson got nine shots in one day, seven of them had thimerosol. Two days later he became autistic. That's happened to thousands and thousands of people around the country."

Lilly's critics appear to have had their way. Pressed by a group of moderate republicans, new GOP leaders in the senate have agreed on a plan reversing what congress did last year, leaving Lilly very much on the hook for existing lawsuits.