FL Senator Jim King re: Terri Schiavo: "...I want her to die."

Christian Broadcasting Network ^ | 01-16-04 | Wendy Griffith

[pc93]

http://www.cbn.com/CBNNews/News/040116a.asp

FL Senator Johnny Byrd calls up President of the Senate Jim King: "Jim, we need to save Terri Schiavo's life."

President of the FL Senate Jim King: "No, I wrote this legislation several years ago, and I want her to die."

On November 21, 2003, Senator Stephen Wise sponsored Senate Bill 692. This bill is being titled the "Starvation & Dehydration of Persons with Disabilities Prevention Act" and it "declares that an incompetent person is presumed to have directed health care providers to provide necessary nutrition & hydration to sustain life".

On December 3, 2003, Senate President Jim King was quoted in the Tampa Tribune as saying: "As soon as you put something on the floor, as well-intended as it may be, anybody can amend it. Then all of a sudden I'm sitting there facing a bill or bills that can dismantle what I consider to be my legacy". Mr. King has vowed that SB692 will not be heard on the Senate floor.

The next session is scheduled for the first week in March of 2004. Senate Bill 692 will provide "for the act to apply to pending litigation; declaring that the act supersedes existing court orders". However, it must be heard to have a chance.

The following links will give you more information on SB692. I encourage you to circulate this to every Floridian you know:

Text of Senate Bill 692:

http://flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb0692.html&Directory=session/2004/Senate/bills/billtext/html/

Contact details for Senator Stephen Wise: wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov District Office: 3520-2 Blanding Boulevard Jacksonville, FL 32210-5253 (904) 573-4900 FAX (904) 573-3989

Contact Details for Senate President Jim King: king.james.web@flsenate.gov District Office: Suite 108 9485 Regency Square Boulevard Jacksonville, FL 32225-8145 (904) 727-3600 Fax (904) 727-3603

Tampa Tribune article mentioned above: http://news.tbo.com/news/MGAN946WQND.html

Terri's Fight (please visit the Action Items page at http://www.terrisfight.org

[pc93]

President of the Florida Senate Jim King wants Terri dead to preserve his legacy. Please do what you can to be heard and maybe the voice of reason will make Mr. King realize his folly. Terri has retained rights to rehabilitation and being brought to full capacity, she has the retained rights not to be neglected. She is being not only denied rehabilitation and being brought to full capacity, she is also being neglected thereby (this for 10 years). Somebody is racking up felonies in the extreme, don't our leaders want to make sure that the madness ends by giving Terri her life back? and punishing those responsible for their extreme misdeeds? Please let your voices be heard in as many ways possible (within reason) that you can think of.

[CyberAnt]

Are these Democrats? .. I am presuming so because I didn't see any mention of their party affiliation in the article .. which is the media's usual style.

[Future Useless Eater]

So FL House Speaker Johnnie Byrd quoted the President of the FL Senate, Jim King, as saying:

"No, I wrote this legislation several years ago, and I want her[Terri] to die"

WOW! I'd say lame-duck King needs to be replaced NOW. Senator Lee is ALREADY scheduled to take over later this year... WHY WAIT until OCTOBER???????

King just revealed himself as a Hemlock Society Member, or else he on the 'take' from Felos. King HAS to go!
(all disabled persons in FL who cannot themselves raise a spoon to their own mouths - beware)

I wish I had my BIG ping list with me!

[pc93]

President of the Florida Senate Jim King is a Republican and Florida Senator Johnny Bird is a Democrat. Let us not let this detract from Terri's rights as it shouldn't be an issue of Republican or Democrat in regards to her rights. People from all isles of the political spectrum and human spectrum have stepped up for Terri but a lot on both sides of the Republicans and Democrats haven't done enough to end this madness by giving Terri her rights back and getting her rehabilitation, etc. It is well and good that she got to not be starved to death but the rehabilitation should have came with the feeding tube, etc. but it so happens that her criminally negligent guardian and so-called husband, with a fiancee of over 7 years (with two kids by him), has continued to blatantly deny Terri the light of day, being taken outside in a wheelchair, being given range of motion therapy, and other therapies, etc. He needs to go to jail and guardianship given over to her parents and siblings who love her. We need more people from all spectrums to step up to the plate for Terri and get our leaders, etc. to end this madness now or be complicit for not stopping it. I know this sounds harsh.

[sweetliberty]

"Then all of a sudden I'm sitting there facing a bill or bills that can dismantle what I consider to be my legacy".

What a lowlife this person must be to be proud of a legacy of death of the innocent.

[Jacvin]

"Are these Democrats?"

Just about. Jim King is a "moderate" Republican.

[ruoflaw]

You are from Florida and you can contact him. I think he ought to know that MS would not even allow his poor wife to have a rolled up washrag placed in her hand to stop it from closing in on itself because he said it was "therapy" never mind that it would make her more comfortable...he could care less about her comfort. He should be behind bars for forcing neglect on his wife. Terry continues to live in spite of what her husband wants. If he really loved her and he really believed that she wanted to die... why hasn't he given her the best of care until her death?

[CyberAnt]

I'm surprised .. most media reports can hardly contain themselves when they get the opportunity to taint a repub.

[pc93]

I just looked on the web and saw that he was a Republican. I didn't know he was "moderate" but regardless of what he is he needs to get a major freaking clue.

[ClintonBeGone]

You do remember when they were rushing Terri's law through, everyone it seemed was on board except this guy. He hemmed and hawed and finally gave in to letting the bill be taken up.

[T'wit]

>> King HAS to go!

Do we have to publish HELL FOR DUMMIES? King had better start thinking about where he'll go when he departs this earth. If he wants a quick lesson, Matthew 25:31-46 should help. It says, if you will not give food and drink to the neediest, you will be damned.

[RLK]

"No, I wrote this legislation several years ago, and I want her to die."

-------------------

If there is a God, may your death precede hers by the same method.

[floriduh voter]

One sick puppy. His ego is more important than the life of Terri Schiavo. DRIVEN TO KILL. What evil lurks in the halls of our state capital?

[floriduh voter]

bttt and ping. Thanks guys for your dedication to Terri's fight.

[floriduh voter]

I thought Johnny Byrd was a republican? How'd I get that wrong. Anyway, his office is very gracious to receiving phone calls. Phone calls are MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE than emails imo.

[capt. norm]

Only Democrats and EX-Republicans would behave in this manner.

Republicans have the majority in both Florida houses so he has to have an "R" after his name.

If he's going to switch to Democrat principles, he should be honest and change his affiliation and make it known to his constituency.

Let the voters here (in FL) see what he's up to and then decide abouting voting voting for/against him.

[The Right Stuff]

I'd take this info with a grain of salt. I don't think King would say it.

[syriacus]

King: "I want her [Terri] to die"

King: I want her [Terri] to die be starved to death

---

Thanks for the ping, FL_engineer.

[floriduh voter]

This is my recollection from Hospice Woodside "outside". I went home to make some phone calls to Tallahassee. When I returned to the Vigil on 10-20-03, I was informed about the emergency session for the evening of the 20th. They continued the following day which I saw on my laptop. I heard what was said on the floor. It was also broadcast on tv after Terri's Law went into effect.

Jim King did say something to the effect that God have mercy on her soul if we've done the wrong thing, i.e. Terri's Law.

Those who want to do so are starting a customize your own return address labels campaign here at Free Republic with Avery Labels or Staples labels 1" x 2 5/8". There's a download on the Daily Terri Thread with her site logo and url. Free publicity for Terri.

Do we know for a fact who said Jim King said this? I just scanned the article. FV

[KDubRN]

King is Republican. So is Greer.

[Canadian Outrage]

What a positively SHAMEFUL AND SHOCKING Statement!! Do the People of Florida REALLY want representatives of this ilk? If the majority do and I were a Floridian, I'd move poste haste!! Florida is becoming a Death Trap.

[sport]

Byrd is a Republican.

[Canadian Outrage]

Your statement in post #4 is NOT harsh!! It is right on. HOWEVER since the current Republican Administration stated that they were "compassionate" Conservatives - a man like this should NOT be welcome in the Party. He should be sent to a Communist country where he belongs.

[skr]

I'm surprised .. most media reports can hardly contain themselves when they get the opportunity to taint a repub.

One of the reasons I'm suspicious about this "quote". I do remember that King wasn't enthusiastic, but to put it as "I want her to die."? It seems a bit much.

[pc93]

Oh.. sorry

[CyberAnt]

I agree .. I thought it was a little over the top too.

[cyn]

thanks for your ping -- and here's a "H'mm" ping for you.

"FL Senator Johnny Byrd calls up President of the Senate Jim King: "Jim, we need to save Terri Schiavo's life."

President of the FL Senate Jim King: "No, I wrote this legislation several years ago, and I want her to die."

Sen. King was not only not enthusiastic, but actually downright negative about Sen. Wise's SB692. He did make the outrageous statement that he did not want to take the chance that his "die with dignity" legislation that he'd worked so hard on (due to his personal hard experience, we understand), as the above article says:

"On December 3, 2003, Senate President Jim King was quoted in the Tampa Tribune as saying: "As soon as you put something on the floor, as well-intended as it may be, anybody can amend it. Then all of a sudden I'm sitting there facing a bill or bills that can dismantle what I consider to be my legacy". Mr. King has vowed that SB692 will not be heard on the Senate floor. "

I called his office for clarification, and this was confirmed in just about the same words.

I don't know (and I don't really believe) that he ever asserted "I want her to die". In fact, the CBN article referenced does not include that statement.

But then it shouldn't take that to get people upset about this! Sen Wise's bill should be heard!

[cyn]

This is the article actually posted to CBN for our easy perusal.

ETHICS: Terri Schiavo’s Valiant Fight for Life

By Wendy Griffith, CBN News Sr. Reporter

January 16, 2004

A Florida judge is expected to rule any day that Terri's law is unconstitutional, meaning that her feeding tube could be immediately removed again.

CBN.com – (CBN News) - Is it right to die? Or right to murder? That was the question suddenly put before Florida lawmakers last October.

Many were stunned to learn that then 39-year-old Terri Schiavo, a severely brain-damaged woman from Pinellas Park, Florida, was being starved to death after a judge ordered her feeding tube removed at the request of her husband and legal guardian Michael Schiavo.

House Speaker Johnnie Byrd felt something had gone terribly wrong.

Byrd said, "And I called the governor, called Gov. (Jeb) Bush, and he said, yes, we need to do something.

I called the President of the Senate, Jim King, and said, Jim, we need to save Terri Schiavo's life, and he said, ‘No, I wrote this legislation several years ago, and I want her to die,’ and I said, No, you don't want her to die."

Byrd won his argument in a reversal of the national trend, which has the courts usurping the will of the people expressed by their legislatures. In this case, the Florida legislature trumped the courts by passing a law that went against their ruling. The House and Senate overwhelmingly passed Terri's bill. Gov. Bush quickly signed it into law, ordering her feeding tube reinserted.

Terri was in her seventh day without food and water when the law took effect. Her parents say it was a miracle she survived. Bob Schindler, Terri's father, said, "I attribute that to God."

Scores of protestors holding vigil outside Terri's Pinnelas Park hospice had prayed for her survival. And joining in efforts to keep Terri alive were Regent University law students.

Courtney Langiness, a Regent law student, said, " I had the opportunity to work with a couple of Regent alumni down at a law firm in Florida. One of them wrote the bill that saved Terri Schiavo's life. And, the other was monitoring the work at the hospital to make sure that her feeding tube was placed back in so that she could live."

Another Regent law student, Tarra Trotter, said, "I just remember the feeling when Gov. Bush signed the legislation and how, just to know that we were a part of it, was very exciting."

The Schindler's attorney, Pat Anderson, says Terri has a constitutional right to life, and that her husband Michael should be removed as her legal guardian.

Anderson said, "[Michael] Schiavo has been living with another woman since 1995. They have now had two children together, and where I come from that's called adultery and abandonment. There is no way that someone in that position should have the life or death say-so over somebody in Terri's position."

And Terri's life is still on the line. A Florida judge is expected to rule any day that Terri's law is unconstitutional, meaning that her feeding tube could be immediately removed again.

Shouldn't the legislature, a body elected by the people of Florida, have more authority than a handful of judges?

Speaker Byrd said, "The judicial branch is arrogant in their way, because they believe they can not only apply the law but they can make up the law in the first instance, and so whenever the legislature actually stepped up into this case and said, wait a minute, the judicial branch is on the wrong path. We believe the law should be, in cases like this, that the governor should be able to appoint a new guardian and slow down, err on the side of life. The judicial branch, actually, most of them, had apoplexy that the legislature would actually stand forth and have courage and say, no, we make the law, not the judges."

Terri's family just celebrated her 40th birthday on December 3rd. Last year, it was uncertain whether Terri would make it to that day. Now, the question is, will Terri Schiavo be allowed to live for yet another birthday?

I stand corrected, this article DOES say that King said that to Byrd. Does Byrd stand by his statement?

[phenn]

Distressing Development in Terri's Case
Filed January 7, 2003

This document is titled "Petition to Modify Visitation Rules" and was filed on behalf of Michael Schiavo by attorney Deborah Bushnell. The language in this document has caused tremendous concern.

You can view the entire document by clicking here.

Part 1, Paragraph 5: "When the ward is in the hospital, petitioner should be permitted to more strictly regulate the ward's visitors in order to accommodate the need for hospital personnel to administer medication and treatments unimpeded."

Does this language mean to say that Terri's immediate family will no longer be able to visit or see her should she become hospitalized?

Part 2, Paragraph 7: "Visitors are prohibited from evaluating, examining, treating or testing the ward, or causing the ward to be evaluated, examined, treated or tested by any physician, therapist or other person without prior Court approval.

Does this language mean that Terri's family can no longer ask for assistance if she suffers a medical complication or event?

Part 2, Paragraph 8: "Visitors are prohibited from introducing or causing to be introduced any object, matter or substance of any kind, whether liquid, solid or medicinal, orally or in any other manner to the ward."

Withholding oral sustenance when an individual is capable of accepting it is abuse and a deliberate act of omission under Florida Statute 415.102.

Part 2, Paragraph 13: "Visitors may be restricted from the facility if such visitors violate these visitation rules and conditions in any manner."

Does this language mean that Terri's immediate family can be barred from seeing her at the instructions of her husband/guardian at any time?

[phenn]

As you may already know, Terri's situation has prompted a Georgia state lawmaker to sponsor a Bill (House Bill 1132) that would make it illegal to withhold food and water from a disabled person. I contacted representative Chip Rogers, the Bill's sponsor, and asked what the public could do to assist him in his efforts. His response follows:

"The bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. If you could contact those committee members and ask that this bill be given a fair hearing, I believe it would go a long way towards making it a reality."



Georgia residents can contact the Georgia House of Representatives, House Judiciary Committee on: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2001_02/house/gahjudy.htm

Mr. Roger's profile is on:
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/gl_peo_detail.pl?Leg=gash015

Associated Press article regarding this Bill is on:
http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=41565

The text of this Bill is on:
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/versions/hb1132_LC_33_0148_a_2.htm


Please circulate this email to anyone you know in Georgia. Your help is greatly appreciated.

-P-

[Dante3]

Good for Sen. Byrd. Too few others have spoken out for Terri.
<

[pickyourpoison]

Interesting that some law students are helping in the vigil.
I'd like to see more college and university students get involved in saving Terri.

[floriduh voter]

If you go to the Senate page, you can see who voted for Terri's Law and who voted against. I printed a hard copy for future reference. Felos is trying to play around with the family's visitation. If the family is kept away, nobody will be looking out for Terri. ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN with Hospice in charge of the meds and the medical records. They might not wait to starve her next time.

WE NEED TO START PHONE BANKING AGAIN TO TALLAHASSEE AND TO D.C. floriduh voter

[Dante3]

BUMP

[floriduh voter]

Good morning. We are going to start Vigils at Terri's temporary facility in the near future. I have no further details at this time.

[floriduh voter]

See post above re: New Vigils for Terri

[Gelato]

Prayers for Terri.

[Gelato]

bump

[KDubRN]

Do we have to publish HELL FOR DUMMIES? King had better start thinking about where he'll go when he departs this earth. If he wants a quick lesson, Matthew 25:31-46 should help. It says, if you will not give food and drink to the neediest, you will be damned.

He is a hospice board member

[T'wit]

>> He is a hospice board member

... and sponsors legislation to turn hospices into highly profitable death camps. Along with everything else, he is totally corrupt.

[KDubRN]

I hope y'all continue to contact King, Wise, Byrd, Peaden, Bennett, Jones, Klein, Wilson, Dockery on SB692.
Then continue to contact mcCabe on that investigation which is long overdue. Anybody want medical specifics, email me.

[cyn]

Regret plagues King after Schiavo vote -- if we thought it was bizarre that he might say "I want her to die", look at how he's totally made himself look foolish and incompetent via this interview. He has truly and clearly given himself over to the dark side.

[cyn]

phenn posted this info to the above-linked thread:

From Attorney Felos's Bio:
Since 1991, Felos has been a patient volunteer with the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, Inc., the largest non-profit Hospice in the world. He served on its Board of Directors for nine years, served from 1996-1998 as Board Chair, and provides pro bono legal help to Hospice patients and their families.
http://meditationforlawyers.com/felos_bio.htm

From Jim King's web page:
Highlights - Hospice Hall of Fame Award
Affiliations - Florida Hospice Board of Directors
http://flsenate.gov/Legislators/index.cfm?Members=View+Page&LastName=King&District_Num_Link=008&Submenu=1&Tab=legislators&chamber=Senate

http://terrisfight.org/king.html
Statement of Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation regarding Senator Jim King
45 posted on 02/11/2004 6:13:08 AM PST by phenn (http://www.terrisfight.org)

[floriduh voter]

Jim King thread. PLEASE CIRCULATE. Thanks, FV

[aimee5291]

Wonder if King and Judge Greer aren't in scientology back pocket...??