Florida Legislature Plans Special Session That May Help Terri Schiavo(State Senator King May Block)

LifeNews.com ^ | October 20, 2003 | Steven Ertelt

[nickcarraway]

Pinellas Park, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL) may have found a way to help Terri Schiavo. He has called a special session of the Florida legislature on Monday afternoon that would hopefully put an immediate moratorium in place on all dehydration and starvation deaths currently pending in Florida.

Speaker of the House Johnnie Byrd (R) has worked with Bush to put a piece of legislation together called "Terri's Bill" that halts the deaths.

By law, two-thirds of legislators must agree to place a topic up for vote in a special session of the legislature.

Unfortunately, Byrd's bill may have opposition from the leading man responsible for the state Senate's agenda.

"Volunteers with the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation have learned that Senate President Jim King (R) is against this bill," Pamela Hennessy said in a statement.

Meanwhile, according to Suzanne Carr, Terri's sister, Circuit Court Judge John Moore plans to hear an emergency petition filed by attorneys on behalf of the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities.

The disability rights group is asking for a temporary restraining order halting Terri's death, for Terri to be fed immediately, and for a ten day investigation into numerous charges.

Moore is one of the few district court judges in the state of Florida who has not weighed in on the decade-long legal battle. Moore is a Reagan appointee who may give Terri's case a fairer chance than others judges have.

"We have come to a time when the merchants of death have created a constitutional crisis and a justice gridlock, while the rightful life of Florida's disabled and vulnerable citizens tragically hang on Terri Schindler-Schiavo's court ordered dehydration and starvation death," Hennessy added.

This wouldn't be the first time King has clashed with Bush and Byrd. He recently opposed allowing a special session vote on a state constitutional amendment that would have allowed parents to be notified before a teenage girl can have an abortion.

ACTION: If you are a Florida resident, please contact your state legislators ASAP on Monday at 850-488-4371 and urge them to strongly support Terri's Bill and stop Terri Schiavo from being killed. If you are not a Florida resident, urge any friends and family in the state to call immediately. Also, contact State Senate President Jim King at (850) 487-5030 or king.james.web@flsenate.govking.james.web@flsenate.gov and urge him to allow "Terri's Bill" to be debated. For specific contact information for members of the Florida Senate, go to http://www.flsenate.gov/Legislators/index.cfm?Mode=Member%20Pages&Submenu=1&Tab=legislators

For specific contact information for members of the Florida House, go to http://www.myfloridahouse.com/Legislators.aspx

[nickcarraway]

More info on both of tomorrow's options

[nickcarraway]

ping

[beaversmom]

ping

[cpforlife.org]

In case someone missed he other thread. We now can automatically e-mail every FLA Rep. in seconds!

Please go to http://12dollars.net/terri/ and DO IT NOW!

I emaied them twice. Once with the form letter at the auto-emailer, and a second time with:

Dear Representative,

On Monday October 20, 2003 please vote FOR “Terri’s Bill” which would put an immediate moratorium on all dehydration and starvation deaths currently pending in Florida.

As a public servant of the great State of Florida, it is your duty to protect our citizens to the fullest extent of your abilities. I eagerly await your response.

____________________________________________________

Please forward this to everyone on your email lists.

God bless whoever set that up

[Bellflower]

Thank you for this latest update. I have emailed all the Reps and Senators listed on the Florida site for State Gov. I just emailed Senator King also. The Most important thing anyone can do after doing what they can is to pray, pray, and pray some more. Our God reigns. He is the author of life and everything good. The battle is in the heavenly realm and our prayers must be courageous and stand knowing that God is for us and not against us. That those who hate God love death. That is right out of Prov.8:36b. Our fight is first in the spiritual realm against the wicked powers that be and than the physical. May God's church rise up triumphant and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Amen and amen.

[kenth]

Anyone notice that (R) after Senate President King's name? I think he needs to be reminded of his duties.

[Ronin]

What would King's reason be for blocking the bill. Other than to put a finger into Jeb's eye?

[cannonball]

"--- put an immediate moratorium in place on all dehydration and starvation deaths currently pending in Florida."

This could open Pandora's box, and that may be King's concern. Does this overide a Living Will? Does this mean that every terminal patient who will eventually have malnutrition as a cause of death will get a feeding tube?

[MeekOneGOP]

The latest on Terri Schiavo from Google News:

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&edition=us&q=Terri+Schiavo

Death Stalks the Innocent: The Terri Schiavo Case
Crosswalk.com - 5 hours ago
The case of Terri Schiavo is proof positive that the Culture of Death
is gaining new ground. Unless her feeding tube is restored ...
       The Murder of Terri Schiavo - GOPUSA
       Gov. Bush calls special session over Terri Schiavo - WJXX
       Mother, brother visit Terri Schiavo - WJXX
       Newsday - and more »

Terri Schiavo denied Last Rites
WorldNetDaily - Oct 18, 2003
... attorney for Michael Schiavo yesterday would not allow a revered Roman Catholic priest
to administer Holy Communion to brain-disabled Terri Schindler-Schiavo, ...
       Terri Schiavo Denied Last Communion - NewsMax.com
       and more »

Terri Schiavo's Parents Turn to Gov. Bush
Guardian, UK - Oct 16, 2003
... Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed Wednesday after a decade-long legal fight
between her parents and her husband, who says she would rather die than be ...

Abuse report filed for Terri Schiavo
WorldNetDaily - Oct 17, 2003
... Thirteen years ago Terri Schiavo suffered brain damage from a sudden collapse.
She receives her food and water by means of a feeding tube. ...
       Judicial Watch Offers Jeb Bush Legal Basis to Save Terri - NewsMax.com
       and more »

Vigil continues for Terri Schiavo
Bay News, FL - Oct 16, 2003
There is a new in the Terri Schiavo case as the Pinellas Park woman
is in her first full day without nourishment. Doctors under ...

Parents Of Terri Schiavo Pushing For Intervention
Local6.com, FL - Oct 16, 2003
The feeding tube keeping Terri Schiavo alive was removed yesterday, culminating
a decade-long legal fight between her parents and her husband. ...

FRC Responds to Removal of Terri Schiavo's Feeding Tube
Yahoo News (press release) - Oct 16, 2003
... In today's Washington Update, a daily email to FRC supporters, Family Research Council
President Tony Perkins wrote the following regarding Terri Schiavo, the ...

Terri Schiavo's parents could never have imagined
WorldNetDaily - Oct 17, 2003
... Michael Schiavo would begin an extramarital relationship with another woman and
father two children by her – all while remaining married to their Terri. ...

Timeline of the Terri Schiavo case
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL - Oct 15, 2003
The timeline in the case of Terri Schiavo, who had her feeding tube removed Wednesday
after a six-year legal battle between her husband and parents. - Feb. ...

Wesley Smith : The Horrifying Case of Terri Schiavo
ChronWatch.com - Oct 12, 2003
Wesley J. Smith, writing for The Weekly Standard, examines the horrifying
case of Terri Schiavo, and the ramifications for medical ethics. ...


New! Get the latest news on Terri Schiavo with Google News Alerts.

[White Mountain]

Thanks for the link to the emailer. I got a "parse error" the first two times, but the third time it emailed all the legislators.

When I got the parse error I could not get back the message I had typed into the text box, but I took the precaution of making a copy so I could paste it back in.

---

For anyone on a Windows PC who doesn't want to type their message in again if that happens, before you click on the Send button:

Type Control-A (or Select All on the Edit menu) to highlight everything in the text box. (Control-A means hold down the ctrl key and type A.)

Type Control-C (or Copy on the Edit menu) to copy it to the Windows clipboard.

Click in the text box again to get rid of the highlighting.

Open a blank Notepad window, type Control-V (or Paste on the Edit menu) to paste your message into the Notepad window, then save it to your hard disk.

Then click on the Send button. If you get a parse error and have to go back, you will see the form-letter text in the text box again. Click in the text box, and Control-A Control-V will put your message back in there for you, since the Windows clipboard still has it.

If you have ever known the frustration of typing a long post here at Free Republic and then losing it before you get it posted, typing Control-A Control-C before you hit the Preview or Post button is a good habit that will save a lot of retyping should you lose the post. Even safer, paste it into a Notepad window and save it to your hard disk.

[GailA]

Since TIME is extremely important PHONE your messages in as they will mean MORE than an massive email campaign.

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Phone Numbers

Comments: 202-456-1111

Switchboard: 202-456-1414

FAX: 202-456-2461

E-Mail President George W. Bush: president@whitehouse.gov

Vice President Richard Cheney: vice.president@whitehouse.gov

[GailA]

AUTO RESPONSE:Thank you very much for your e-mail message. Please be assured that I will take note of your comments and appreciate both your input and your activism.

Because I receive such an overwhelming number of daily e-mails, I send this automatic response to let you know I have received your e-mail. Because it is not always possible to personally respond, I use this medium primarily to obtain opinions from constituents regarding legislative issues. Should you require more information or assistance, please do not hesitate to call or write to me. My staff and I will be very happy to assist you.

You may reach us at the following addresses and phone numbers:

DISTRICT OFFICE: Toll Free 1-888-861-9761; (904) 727-3600; Fax 904-727-3603 9485 Regency Square Boulevard, Suite 108, Jacksonville, FL 32225-8145

CAPITOL OFFICE: (850) 487-5030; Fax: 850-487-5844 Suite 409, The Capitol, 404 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me. Your thoughts are very important to me and help keep me well informed.

Sincerely, James E. "Jim" King, Jr. Senate President Florida Senate District 8

WEAR OUT THIS PHONE NUMBER: Toll Free 1-888-861-9761; (904) 727-3600; Fax 904-727-3603

[MindBender26]

This is a rumor that has gotten WAY out of control.

The special session is not for Terri. It is to consider special tax reduction incentives to bring a bio tech company to Florida. It has been called for more than a week. There are NO confirmed plans to put forth any pro-Terri legislation. Supporters are assumng that this session is for purpose of some "life-saving" legislation or that some such legislation will be introduced. There have been many postings to that effect. Rumors are building on rumors.

There is no guarantee, or even official indication that legislature will even look into Terri's case.

This is exactly the type of bad PR mistake that reduces, not increases support.

[White Mountain]

Your #9: This could open Pandora's box, and that may be King's concern.

Making the language specific to Terri's case would pose other problems.

I think the purpose of the moratorium is to obtain some time to allow review of each case to separate the persistent vegetative state cases from cases like Terri's where she is not in a vegetative state, as you can see from the file footage they show whenever they cover her story on the news.

Follow the link in post #5, and look at the form letter provided in the text box. It quotes Florida law, which says that Terri cannot be put to death unless she is in a persistent vegetative state, and defines that state.

They shouldn't be doing this to her.

What will it take to get good judges in this country? Wherever their names are not on the ballot, we have to elect good governors who will nominate them, and good legislators who will confirm them.

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

[White Mountain]

Your #14: This is a rumor that has gotten WAY out of control. The special session is not for Terri. It is to consider special tax reduction incentives to bring a bio tech company to Florida. It has been called for more than a week. There are NO confirmed plans to put forth any pro-Terri legislation.

Can't they bring up anything they want with a two-thirds vote?

[MindBender26]

Yes they can. However, there is no written bill, no committee hearings, no committee votes, no staffing done on this.

Legislation does not happen overnight.

Worst of all, postings here and announcements on the official Terri website have led reader to believe that session was called for "Terri's Bill." I'm sorry, I'm all for Terri and her cause, but there have been so many bad moves from a PR standpoint, I'm getting more than frustrated with entties controling this.

Good PR leads to needed public support. Bad PR kills it.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I suspect that with the regular Joes out there, the publicity has had the opposite effect from the one intended. Chris Matthews had some clergyman on yesterday that sounded like a raving lunatic and couldn't answer a straight question as to when feeding and hydration could be withdrawn, and its coming across the airwaves as a frenzied group of fanatics who will, as always, fail miserably.

An interesting side note - I've had bunches of inquiries from folks who haven't had living wills made yet, stating that they want to do it now because they "don't want to wind up like that girl on TV". I can also say that my living wills all have the explicit direction to withhold food and water, and not one person has ever balked at that.

[lodwick]

bttt

[OXENinFLA]

http://www.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm

The Senate will convene for Special Session E on Monday, October 20, 2003, at 1:45pm.