Prevent Florida State Senator James King From Blocking Terr's Law

Florida Governor Jeb Bush is finally pursuing a course to save the life of Terri Schiavo. Governor Bush is calling a special session of the Florida legislatureon Monday to pass legislation that he worked on with Florida Speaker of the House Johnnie Byrd. ``Terri's Bill'' would immediately suspend all dehydration and starvation deaths in the state.

LifeNews.com, however is reporting that one man is the greatest obstacle to this happening, Florida Senate President Jim King, the man who controls the state Senate's agenda.

It's obviously important that we contact all state representatives, Senators, and other parties, but it is absolutely critical we put the pressure on Senator King!

Senator James E. "Jim" King, Jr.is the state Senator from Florida's district 8, which covers parts of Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns, and Volusia counties. Especially if you live in his district, please call him and tell him that he needs to listen to Governor Bush and Speaker Byrd and put this on the agenda tomorrow. Tell him you think this bill needs to be passed ASAP. And call any relatives or friends you have who live in that district to call (or email) him. Right now, he may be the one person with the most power to stop this bill. Let's let him know it needs to get passed. He needs some serious Freeping!

King sure likes to throw his weight around, metaphorically speaking. He seems to have a history of thwarting bills that would help vulnerable women.

Florida State Senator Jim King Blocks Women's Bill

House Bill 219, Senate Bill 212, the Woman's Health and Safety Act, would require abortion clinics to maintain the same standards that are demanded of surgical outpatient clinics.
HB 219, having passed committee, is ready to be addressed by the Florida senate, but senate president Jim King refuses to allow it on the agenda. What does Senator King have against women? Why won't he allow them to have the same health and safety precautions that are available in other surgical centers? Why is King, a Republican, blocking the vote on this bill? In so doing whose agenda is King supporting?
The Florida Catholic Conference, the Silent No More post-abortive women, and pro-life groups are lobbying to get this bill before the seante. A press conference on this issue is scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, 2003. Call the FL Catholic Conference for time and location and attend in support of women. Tel: 1-850-222-3803.

Our email to king and byrd

It is a crying shame that a human being, the ultimate animal on planet earth is being STARVED TO DEATH, when we as compassionate people will not tolerate a dog or cat to be STARVED TO DEATH. We go to extreme lengths to save stranded whales, rescue trapped horses, dogs, cats and deer.

We give even the most HEINOUS of murderers a 'clean' humane death when it is time to execute them.

BUT Terri Schiavo is being STARVED to death in America... one would think this was AUTWITZ, Germany and the DEATH camps of Adolph Hitler.

SAVE TERRI SCHIAVO before a Pandora's box is opened and it can't be closed again. Up to 20% of ALL nursing home residents are in Terri Schiavo's position all across America.

Pass Terri's Law NOW.

Dennis & Gail Keasling Millington, TN

Okay, this is what I wrote. Haven't sent it in yet. Thought I'd fact-check it with you guys. Whatcha think?

Subject: Terri's Bill (not a form letter)

Senator King,

It has been reported in the major media that you intend to single-handedly deny the chance for Terri's Bill, introduced by Florida Speaker of the House Johnnie Byrd and Governor Bush, to be voted on in the Senate.

I urge you to reconsider, and let it be brought before the Senate.

As you know by now, vast numbers of people all across the nation have seen videos and considered the available evidence and do not believe that Terri Schindler remotely meets the conditions of "comatose" and "persistent vegetative state" that are required by Florida law to permit her dehydration/starvation. Many expert opinions of doctors and nurses have testified to this as well.

Even more citizens are deeply disturbed that, despite clear conflicts of interests in all parties involved in the starvation/dehydration of Terri, no guardian ad litem was assigned and no alternate court's findings of fact were allowed to stand up to Greer's continuous overrulings. It is my understanding that despite continuous assertions in the media that this matter has already been through the hands of 19 justices, only one currently held "finding of fact" has not been made by Greer. It is also my understanding that whenever any other Justice was allowed to establish findings of fact in this case, most of them have found Terri not meeting the standards required to permit her starvation before Greer was given the opportunity to overturn them.

What has caused the most outrage is that affidavits entered by her nurses have testified that she has eaten food and swallowed in the past, before such feeding were abruptly halted by her guardian, Michael Schiavo. To let the guardian (through atrophy) forcefully deprive her of the ability to eat and then years later abruptly remove the feeding tube and not even permit her to be fed because it could now make her choke, is to say that a situation clearly manufactured by her guardian is now the very situation being used to justify depriving her of her life.

There is far too much doubt in this case, especially with all the conflicts of interest, testimony of doctors and findings of fact in favor of Terri by any Justice other than Greer, to allow this death sentence on Terri to continue.

Anthony Scalia recused himself from the Supreme Court hearing on the Pledge of Allegiance for NO OTHER REASON than his religious beliefs. Does it not stand to reason that Justice Greer should have recused himself, given his clearly deeply held beliefs seeking to promote the "right to die"? I contend it is obvious on it's face that Mr. Schiavo's conflict of interest is enough that it should have automatically triggered a guardian ad litem. And given your own deeply held beliefs in the same matter (as evidenced by your Living Will Legislation), is it not fair to ask that the will of the people of Florida be heard through the voice of the collective Legislature, and not solely through the deeply held beliefs of only three people?

Your position with the Florida Hospice Board of Directors is already well known. I think it is only fair for you to be made aware that, should you refuse to allow this Bill to be considered by the Legislature today as has been reported in major media outlets, you will be held in the eyes of a great deal of the population of this great Nation, not just Florida, as another individual with conflicts of interest, derived from association with the hospice industry, that have facilitated a disabled and much-loved woman's death in one of the most painful manners possible.

My opinion is that making sure your name will never again be disassociated from Michael Schiavo, Justice Greer and Mr. Felos would be less than politically prudent.

I urge you to let the Legislature vote on this matter, and allow the Will of -all- the People of Florida, as represented by their Legislature, and not just three deeply conflicted men, decide this matter of extreme importance.

There are thousands of people being alerted across the country, and Sir, you are likely the most watched person in the nation as of this morning.

I urge you to not be like a Democrat... do not single-handedly filibuster this bill. Let the Senate have it's up-or-down vote. Otherwise, the Florida Legislature will become another example of the great failure of Legislatures across our nation who have failed in their duty to provide a check against a runaway and reckless Judiciary.

With great trust that you will rise to this occassion, do the right thing and let this matter go before a full vote,

*my signature*

Whatcha think?

And no, you can't all steal it, it's not meant to be a form letter *grin*. I think this guy should get more than a form letter from everybody. I'm just kindly asking for a fact check from those perhaps more knowledgable than me about this case. If I'm going to send this I want to be sure my facts are on the ball.

Qwinn

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

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