from the markets Byrd joins Schiavo debate
House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, R-Plant City, wants the Legislature to block a court order removing the feeding tube from Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman whose case has gotten international attention. "I think it would simply be a moratorium on the removal of nutrition and hydration from those who do not have a written directive and where there's a contest among the family about how to deal with it,'' Byrd said today. "It would be a very, very narrow approach, but it would be one that would apply to Terri's case.'' The Senate, however, seemed less interested in delving into highly emotional issue, especially in the during the five-day special session that began today to consider a proposal to pay millions of dollars to move a branch of the world's largest private research center to Florida. "All of this came up as of yesterday evening, at 10 o'clock at night, first I heard of it,'' Senate President Jim King said. "We're trying to figure out what to do with it.'' King said he oppoosed the idea, but it was not clear if he would block it. Byrd, who is running for the U.S. Senate, put the issue in pro-life terms. "The real issue for me is, am I doing everything in my power to protect life, and that's what I want to do. I never want to look back,'' Byrd said. "I have three daughters and I think Terri Schiavo is a very beautiful person. I've seen photos of her and I've seen her parents, who love her and want to protect her.'' Bush, who has told Schiavo's parents he would do what he could to intervene to save their daughter, has not taken a public position on Byrd's proposal. - Steve Bousquet