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

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

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?

Gosh...I hope no one in the care of medical professionals has malnutrition or dehydration as a cause of death. Witholding medicine and procedures is one thing, but starving someone is a whole other level.

What kind of nation are we becoming if the state can order that a patient is to be starved to death? We've totally lost our moral compass as a nation if our leaders don't know to stop this if they're in a position to do so.

Jeb's losing it. All he has to do is issue a stay of execution, and let the courts settle it after the fact.

I just spoke to Senator Kings office, and, according to the lady who answers the phone, they know nothing of this nor could it effect the Schiavo situaton because it would not be retroactive. (her words not mine) Was also told that the meeting today, if it would have anything to do with this, would not vote until thursday. But the main point in her message was that this will not and could not legally effect the Schiavo case 1) because it is not legal, and 2) it would not be retroactive Also called the Speaker of the HOuse, talked to his assistant, and was told they no nothing of this. (1-850-488-1450) He told me to cal the Clerk at 1-850-488-1157 which I did, and spoke to Sissy,and this is what I was told :We know nothing about it, we do not have it on our plans for the day. Now, it is my understanding that it can "just be brought up", but the truth of the matter is (According to Kings office) is that it would not be retroactive, and would not make it to vote because it is not constitutational, for some reason (sorry, was holding a baby and getting a duck out of my back porch while i was on the phone). So, that is what I was told, if anyone can verify or add more to this, I would be greatly appreciative Also, called our local station (first coast news) who aired the story, asked them who their contacts were, and they said they received the story from the Terri Schiavo Foundation... that no other confirmation had been made.... Seems discouraging to me, anyone able to add some hope to what I have been told? Heather

Received this just now:

Heather, Here's information so that you could watch the session.

Barbara at Legislative Information

-----Original Message-----
From: PERRY-PLATT.ROSE
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 8:48 AM
To: !OLS - LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION
Subject: FW: Florida Channel Broadcast Schedule: Saturday, October 18 through Monday, October 20

For your information.

Rose

-----Original Message-----
From: Aimee Coleman [mailto:acoleman@mailer.fsu.edu]
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2003 2:59 PM
To: Beth Switzer
Cc: Dan Boldman; bbrooks@unicomm.fsu.edu; fmurphy@mailer.fsu.edu
Subject: Florida Channel Broadcast Schedule: Saturday, October 18 through Monday, October 20

WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel's Programming Schedule

(for October 18, 19, & 20, 2003)

Due to the nature of the events covered by WFSU-TV / The Florida Channel, the following schedule is subject to change. All times are Eastern.

Live coverage can also be seen on the Internet at http://wfsu.org/Florida_Channel/webschedule.htm

Monday, October 20, 2003

6:00 AM Capitol Update - Episode 703

6:30 AM Florida Crossroads - Episode 1502

"Florida, Inc."

7:00 AM Capitol Update - Episode 703

7:30 AM Florida Crossroads - Episode 1502

"Florida, Inc."

8:00 AM Press Conference on Identity Theft (from October 15, 2003)

8:30 AM Governor's Press Conference on Scripps Research Institute (from October 9, 2003)

9:00 AM Joint Select Committee on Workers' Compensation Rating Reform **LIVE**

10:30 AM Joint Informational Meeting **LIVE**

Informational Meeting on Special Session E by the Senate President, House Speaker, and the Governor

1:00 PM House Session **LIVE**

2:00 PM Senate Session **LIVE**

(Joined in progress)

2:45 PM Senate Committee on Regulated Industries **LIVE**

5:00 PM Senate Committee on Commerce, Economic Opportunities, and Consumer Services **LIVE**

(The above schedule will repeat from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM.)

Modulator Channels:

Channel 51:

9:00 AM - 10:15 AM Joint Select Committee on Workers' Compensation Rating Reform (110 SOB)

Also LIVE on The Florida Channel

1:45 PM - 2:30 PM SENATE, Session (Senate Chamber)

Also LIVE on the Florida Channel (Joined in progress)

2:45 PM - 4:45 PM SENATE, Regulated Industries (110 SOB)

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM SENATE, Commerce, Economic Opportunities, & Consumer Services (412 Knott)

Also LIVE on The Florida Channel

Channel 52:

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Joint Administrative Procedures Committee (42 SOB)

Channel 56:

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM Joint Informational Meeting (House Chamber)

Also LIVE on The Florida Channel

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM HOUSE, Session (House Chamber)

Also LIVE on The Florida Channel

3:45 PM - 5:45 PM HOUSE, Select Committee on Affordable Housing (Reed Hall - 102 HOB)

Channel 57:

3:45 PM - 5:45 PM HOUSE, Select Committee on Affordable Health Care for Floridians (Morris Hall - 17 HOB)

Satellite Information

WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel will provide a digital feed of our coverage. WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel's signal is uplinked to a satellite transponder leased by the state of Florida. The satellite is AMC-3 (KU band) at 87 degrees west; the transponder is 18, Virtual Channel 802. The downlink frequency is 12048.500 MHz; the uplink frequency is 14348.500 MHz; the L-band frequency is 1298.500 MHz. The symbol rate is 9.76. The FEC is 3/4. This is an unencrypted digital signal: however, anyone interested in receiving The Florida Channel must have a General Instruments integrated receiver/decoder, DigiCypher II format, authorized to get The Florida Channel programming. For more information on the Florida Transponder and General Instruments equipment, please call Rick Potrikus at (800) 322-9378, ext. 345, or check the WFSU-TV web site at http://www.wfsu.org/satellite-serv.htm.

Channel Information

WFSU-TV / The Florida Channel is a free service offered to local origination, government, and educational access channels throughout the state of Florida. In Tallahassee, WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel is seen on 4FSU (Comcast Cable Channel 4) from 12:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily. In other locations, please visit our channel carriage web page at http://www.wfsu.org/Florida_Channel/legcarriage.htm or call WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel at (850) 488-1281.

Dear Representative:

I was born in Florida, raised in Florida, and still reside in Florida 34 years
later. I have been a registered voter since the day I turned 18. I ask that
you heed the voice of the people of this state, and across our great country.

Florida’s Speaker of the House will introduce “Terri’s Bill” at a special
session of the Florida Legislature today, Monday, October 20, 2003.
The Bill would put an immediate moratorium on all dehydration and starvation
deaths currently pending in Florida. By Florida law, two thirds majority vote
are required to have a topic entered. Vote YES and pass this bill, for the sake
of HUMANITY.

It is an unconscionable that we, as such a great nation can point our fingers at
other countries with disdain while allowing such inhumane treatment of our very
own \"stricken\" citizens. Our Humane Societies protect even our lowliest
creatures from any such torturous acts as these. The deprivation of food and
water by which to cause the death of any live creature is cruel and inhumane no
matter how you dress it up.

This practice is deemed acceptable as is supposedly falls within the following:

\"the use of extraordinary artificial support systems\"

\"extraordinary, life-prolonging treatment\"

\"utilizing extraordinary mechanical or other artificial means to sustain their
vital bodily functions\"

\"artificial, life-prolonging measures\"

Just when did providing food and water become extraordinary or artificial?
Shall we agree to stop feeding our nursinghome patients because it is considered
\"life-prolonging\"?

How about our infants? If my baby could not swallow... would it then be deemed
\'okay\' that I didn\'t take her to a hospital, but instead (as the guardian)
decided to forego feedings because the baby made it \'apparant\' that it had no
interest in taking in sustenance? NO, that would be a CRIMINAL ACT!

I have also seen the following: \"medical advances have made it possible to keep
the body alive although the brain has ceased (came to an end; stopped) to
function\"
Is it not obvious that someone who is able to breathe entirely on their own
still has some brain function which has not ceased.

Brain dead is a brain which has totally ceased to function (having irreversible
loss of brain function as indicated by a persistent flat electroencephalogram);
if you remove \'articifial life support\' from someone who is brain dead, their
body will cease to function. By removing food and water from a person whose
brain is still active, their body does not cease to function... it continues to
function until the brain is starved and dehydrated to DEATH.

This is an important distinction. If this act of barbarism is allowed, don\'t
be surprised to find it ultimately used as a defense in a criminal court when
someone is charged with murder in the future.

I expect that you have risen to the point in your career that you are at because
you are intelligent, compassionate, and wise enough to know the difference
between right & wrong.

Raquel Pointer

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