Gov. Bush calls special session over Terri Schiavo

Firstcoastnews.com ^ | 10-20-03 | Cynthia Capers

[JulieRNR21]

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- According to a news release sent by the Terry Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, Florida Speaker Johnnie Byrd will introduce "Terri's Bill" during the special session Monday.

The bill would put an immediate moratorium on all dehydration and starvation deaths in Florida. Meanwhile, supporters of Terri Schiavo showed up Sunday outside a Pinellas Park hospice.

Doctors say Schiavo has been in a vegetative state since complications from a heart attack in 1990. Her husband was granted a court order that her feeding tube be removed, saying his wife wouldn't have wanted to be kept alive.

[JulieRNR21]

This may be close ....there are about 15 Dems to 25 Rep

[Humidston]

She watched starvation of dying comatose... no pain. been on both sides... made decision...difference was that person was in terminal cond. and dying... 3 reasons to pull plug.. had to be in END stage... permanent deteriation...any treatment finished... term. cond. caused by injury or disease.. AND... without treatment death could occur... 3rd persistant vegetative state... UNconscious. I cannot accept it in this case!! There IS cognition!!

(YES... SHE'S GOING TO VOTE YES!)

[tutstar]

I'm watching the senate right now and so far I've seen 2 who are against the bill.......

email all FL senators...
COPY AND PASTE THE NEXT LINE INTO THE "TO" FIELD....CHANGE 'TO' TO "BCC"

alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov,argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov,aronberg.dave.web@flsenate.gov,atwater.jeffrey.web@flsenate.gov,bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov,bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov,campbell.walter.web@flsenate.gov,carlton.lisa.web@flsenate.gov,clary.charlie.web@flsenate.gov,constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov,cowin.anna.web@flsenate.gov,crist.victor.web@flsenate.gov,dawson.mandy.web@flsenate.gov,portilla.alex.web@flsenate.gov,dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov,fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov,garcia.rudy.web@flsenate.gov,geller.steven.web@flsenate.gov,haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov,hill.anthony.web@flsenate.gov,jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov,king.james.web@flsenate.gov,klein.ron.web@flsenate.gov,lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov,lee.tom.web@flsenate.gov,lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov,margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov,miller.lesley.web@flsenate.gov,peaden.durell.web@flsenate.gov,posey.bill.web@flsenate.gov,pruitt.ken.web@flsenate.gov,saunders.burt.web@flsenate.gov,sebesta.jim.web@flsenate.gov,siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov,smith.rod.web@flsenate.gov,villalobos.alex.web@flsenate.gov,schultz.debbie.web@flsenate.gov,wilson.frederica.web@flsenate.gov,wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov


Subject; VOTE YES TERRI'S BILL --GUARDIAN AD LITEM FOR TERRI NOT HER HUSBAND--JUDGE IGNORED


In June 1998, soon after Michael asked the court for permission to remove Terri's feeding tube, the court appointed Richard Pearse as Terri's guardian ad litem. His job was to investigate the facts of Terri's case and represent her interests in court.

At the 2000 trial, Pearse concluded that he had not found clear and convincing evidence that Terri would have rejected life support.

Pearse said he was troubled by the fact that Michael waited until 1998 to petition to remove the feeding tube, even though he claims to have known her wishes all along, and that he waited until he won a malpractice suit based on a professed desire to take care of her into old age. As her husband, Michael would inherit what is left of her malpractice award, originally $700,000, which is held in a trust fund administered by the court. Accounting of the fund is sealed. But Michael's lawyer, George Felos, said most of it has been spent on legal fees associated with the custody dispute.

Pearse also said he did not find Joan and Scott Schiavo's testimony credible.

Greer ruled in Michael's favor. Appeals by the Schindlers failed. A state appeals court upheld Greer's decision; the Florida and U.S. supreme courts declined to hear the case. And on April 24, 2001, hospice staff stopped feeding her. But two days later Pinellas County civil court Judge Frank Quesada ordered that feeding be resumed when evidence suddenly surfaced suggesting that Michael never really knew what Terri's wishes were.

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2003/sep/03091707.html

[Humidston]

KEEP PRAYING

[MeekOneGOP]

The press (and 99% of the liberals) are desperate that this NOT become (nor labelled!) a "right-to-life" issue since THAT invokes sympathy against their precious abortion issue.

I bet ! ...

[Ethan_Allen]

"She says the bill comes before them because of a legislative mistake. They didn't foresee the circumstances of someone not having an end of life directive. She says the recourse is to law, or to the court. If the courts make a decision that looks wrong, the legislature responds. Looks like she's going to vote yes..."

Yes! A person being tried for a capital crime gets TWELVE jurors! Physical disability is NOT a capital crime! There is something wrong with the laws THEY wrote that would give the power to ONE man with conflicts of interest to kill a person not convicted of any crime.

[Humidston]

Terry is STILL viable!! She follows instructions!

[iowamomforfreedom]

Pointing out the three reasons necessary to withdraw life support. Not there in this case. Court says PVS but that has not been completely documented. That was years ago. Doctors decision was 3-2. Why? Because they really couldn't determine it.

Terri is still viable. No eeg flat wave. She responds.

THANK YOU SENATOR!!

[lonevoice]

This may be close ....there are about 15 Dems to 25 Rep

Praying. At least two Reps have argued against the bill.

[MHGinTN]

Just received the following e-mail from Bush's PR folks regarding the fax I sent to him early Saturday morning. Following is my reply to the governor's shill.

"Thank you for writing to Governor Bush and expressing interest in the well-being of Terri Schindler Schiavo. He has asked me to respond on his behalf. The Governor is very concerned about Terri, and his thoughts and prayers are with the Schindler family.

The Governor expanded the call of the special session last night to include legislation that may be helpful in the tragic and very unique case of Terri Schiavo. As he continues to pray for Mrs. Schiavo and her entire family, the Governor anticipates action by the Senate today. The House passed the bill last night. When the bill is presented to the Governor, he will sign it into law. He has asked his legal staff to determine the swiftest course of action, and hopes to act today.

The bill is very narrow and addresses the unique condition of Mrs. Schiavo. It gives the Governor the right to order the re-insertion of her feeding and hydration tubes. The language would also allow the Governor to rescind the order, should Mrs. Schiavo's condition change.

Thank you again for writing."

Sincerely,
Lauren O'Connor
Office of Citizens' Services

________________

I sent the following reply to Ms. O'Connor only minutes ago:

I regret to say, I shall never take the trouble of writing to this governor again, as his indecisiveness has exposed him to be a fraud. I read his amicus brief, twice. I watched as he played word games when Judge Lazzara refused to take the case. I can only end with "A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds."

Not one person in my immediate or extended family will ever again set foot on Florida soil for vacation or recreation. It's too dangerous! With casual calculation, our moratorium amounts to approximately $12,000 per year averaging over the next fifteen years, the end of my current life expectancy.

Thanks be to God that George Bush not Jeb Bush is our President.

XXXXXX YYYYYYYY, Johnson City, Tennessee

... and I meant every word of it!

[Deo volente]

I agree. Prayer needed at this time.

This is the time for quiet trust in Almighty God.

There's an enormous spiritual battle going on right NOW, and we must not despair.

PRAYERS FOR SENATORIAL WISDOM AND COURAGE.
PRAYING TO GOD TO PROTECT THE FLORIDA SENATE.

[CindyDawg]

You got an update?

[Lovergirl]

WOW!!! She looked at the videos.

[honeygrl]

I think this lady has read our emails!!!

[OXENinFLA]

The woman speeking now is right on.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

She's very good, and passionate.

[Ohioan from Florida]

Continued prayer. Pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy if you know it! Now is the hour!

[Humidston]

"She isn't end stage...she hasn't had therapy in 10 yrs!... NO medical tests....now they want to stop extraneous means... Why haven't they tried to teach her to swallow?? No rehab... gut feeling of people on net... don't see her as a veg... but a person who can't speak.... we should do as the courtshave said...DO NO WRONG... when in doubt,,, let's errr on the part of causing her a painful death... give her opportunity to improve... (I'm crying)... till she can eat and refuse treatment... let us not do any wrong.. let us keep her till God says it's time for her to go...

[JulieRNR21]

This senator is crediting the senders of the emails as recognizing that Terri is not vegetative.

Give her a chance for life....teach her to eat.

Vote to give her life until god calls her.

[tutstar]

Ethan---see my 1443, did you know that there had been guardian ad litem, how could the judge disregard that????

Something's going on.....