FLA. LAWMAKERS MAY PASS TUBE-FEEDING LAW (LEGISLATURE MEETING TONIGHT, OCT. 20, TO PROPOSE BILL)

AP WIRE SERVICE ^ | OCT. 20, 2003 | AP WIRE

[varina davis]

Fla. Lawmakers May Pass Tube-Feeding Law

October 20, 2003 07:17 PM EDT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida lawmakers were moving Monday to consider intervening in the case of a severely brain-damaged woman whose feeding tube was removed last week by her husband's order.

The Florida House scheduled a Monday night session to take up the issue. In the Senate, President Jim King said he will propose legislation that would give Gov. Jeb Bush the authority to order the feeding tube be reinserted to keep Terri Schiavo alive.

The tube was removed Wednesday following a decade-long court battle between Schiavo's parents and their son-in-law, who contends that he is carrying out her wishes not to be kept alive artificially.

"If we are to err - because time is of the essence - for goodness sake let us err on the side of caution," said King, a Republican.

Schiavo has been in what doctors call a vegetative state since her heart stopped in 1990 from a suspected potassium imbalance.

Bush told parents Bob and Mary Schindler last week that his staff would search for legal ways to save their daughter's life, but said Monday they haven't yet found a way.

"The legal ways, the remedies, don't exist," Bush said Monday, before the possible legislative moves became apparent.

Bush added, "I wish I could wave the magic wand and resolve this but every effort that we've had or every effort that has been proposed has either been thwarted by the courts or would be inappropriate."

Meanwhile, in a statement released through his lawyer, husband Michael Schiavo said Monday that he, too, is grieving, but "I did what I believe Terri would have wanted me to do."

[JustPiper]

Susan 'Butcher' mayhaps?

[ChemistCat]

Just tried to call your governor and state senators.

Encountered full mailboxes and "call back later" at every turn.

Goodnight. All I can think of to do now. I don't think senators shoudl be sleeping when they should be voting. I don't think Jeb would mind having to come into work to sign the bill into law.

[JustPiper]

from a suspected potassium imbalance

This worries me because everyday without liquid or an IV her electrolytes put her life in danger.

[JustPiper]

Bump! Bless You! Someone should also ask her how would she feel in Terri's shoes and her husband was trying to kill her?!

[JustPiper]

Acknowledged my email:

Burt L. Saunders - State Senator, District 37- If you are a resident of District 37 and would like a more formal response, please be sure you have provided me with your name, address and phone number so that I may better serve you. If you would like to contact my office by telephone, you may call either the Collier County office, 239-417-6220, or the Lee County office, 239-338-2777.

Frederica S. Wilson - Senator, District 33 - You can also contact my office by calling 305-654-7150.

Debbie Schultz-If you reside in Senate District 34, you will receive a response to your e-mail. However, due to the vast number of e-mail messages received daily, if you need immediate assistance, please contact my district office at (954) 704-2934.

Jim Sebesta -
District Office:
9887 4th Street North, Suite 319
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
(727) 563-0377 (727) 217-7090 FAX

An Important Man!
James E. "Jim" King, Jr.
Senate President
Florida Senate District 8
DISTRICT OFFICE: Toll Free 1-888-861-9761; (904) 727-3600; Fax 904-727-3603
CAPITOL OFFICE: (850) 487-5030; Fax: 850-487-5844

Al Lawson, Jr. - (850) 487-5004

Tom Lee
State Senator-District 10
If you need to contact my office by telephone, please call (813)744-8683. Pasco & Polk County residents may reach me by calling 1-800-560-4403.

Senator Ken Pruitt
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
772 344-1140
772 344-4102 (fax)
888 759-0791 (toll free)
Palm Beach District Office:
888 759-0791 (toll free)

If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call my office at (561) 274-4777.
Very truly yours, Ron Klein
State Senator District 30

Senator Durell Peaden
Senate District 2

Bill Posey
Senator District 24

Senator Steven A. Geller
Florida State Senate, District 31

Senator Victor D. Crist
Florida Senate, District 12

Rudy Garcia
If you are a constituent of Senate District 40 and need assistance, please call my district office at (305) 364-3191.

[JustPiper]

Local Florida calls if one of these happens to be yours, some have tollfree #'s.

Mike Fasano
State Senator, District 11
call me at 727-848-5885 or 1-800-948-5885

Paula Dockery Florida State Senator
1-866-248-6487 toll free

Walter "Skip" Campbell - Senator, District 32

Dave Aronberg - State Senator, District #27
Greenacres, FL (561) 433-2627 FAX 561-434-3995
Ft. Myers - (239) 338-2646 FAX 239-338-2548
Tallahassee - (850) 487-5356

Senator Charlie Clary 800-439-9092

State Senator Larcenia Bullard 1-866-234-3734

Michael S. "Mike" Bennett Florida Senate, District 21
941-727-6349 or my Tallahassee Office at 850-487-5078

Senator Stephen R. Wise - Florida Senate, District 5

Lisa Carlton
If you reside in Senate District 23 and need immediate assistance with a state issue, please phone my office at 941-486-2032

[ClancyJ]

I am in Texas and plan to stay - no state income tax, it is home and I have a husband that refuses to live in another state. Yet, if there were laws here like they are drifting to in Florida I would leave.

I will determine if I-IIIIII want tubes out with a Living Will - not that I mentioned it sometime in the past.

[ClancyJ]

But as a Christian, I am curious why you are so afraid of death and are fighting this so hard.

Because she is being murdered.

Exactly. (Hundle) I wonder why you are so in favor of committing murder? Do you not understand that we are not God?

In fact - who is to say Terri is a Christian? Maybe she is not and they are in fact condemning her not to heaven but elsewhere (hate to say where). There is an awful lot of responsibility in determining who lives and who dies.

[JustPiper]

Bill gives Jeb Bush power to 'stay' case, but needs to overcome Senate foes today

[OXENinFLA]

Thanks for that address, she needs a freepeing.

[shezza]

FL Senate takes up "Terri's Bill" Tuesday...their website says they senate will convene at 6:45 pm. That gives everyone plenty of time to make their voices heard on Terri's behalf!

See post #547 for the email list of senators.

[OXENinFLA]

http://www.myfloridahouse.com/FloorVote.aspx?voteid=3425

House Floor Vote

(The Roll call)

[NautiNurse]

I haven't been able to find anything about the state senate activities today. Tallahassee Democrat is focused on the Scripps package. Nothing in TBO. Have you seen anything?

[OXENinFLA]

http://www.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm

The Senate will convene on Tuesday, October 21, 2003, at 6:45 p.m.

ARE THEY GOING TO WAIT UNTIL 6:45pm to bring this up????

[SwordofTruth]

ARE THEY GOING TO WAIT UNTIL 6:45pm to bring this up????

It was stated last night in the house that the senate would take this up in the morning. I sure hope they do, Terri is running out of time fast.

[NautiNurse]

Thanks for the link. Nothing I can find anywhere about the Senate taking it up this morning. If you hear anything ping me, please. I'll do the same.

[OXENinFLA]

8:00 a.m.-until completion
of agenda
Democratic Caucus
Rm. 228 (SB)

8:00-10:00 a.m.
McKay Scholarship Task
Force Rm. 110 (EL-SB)
Rules and Calendar
Rm. 37 (LL-SB)

10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Group II
Commerce, Economic
Opportunities, and
Consumer Services
Pat Thomas

[OXENinFLA]

http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2003E/Senate/Calendars/Daily/sc102103.pdf

[agrace]

Pollywog clarified in another post that the Mike in question was in fact the fiance of Terri's sister. But check THIS out - Michael Schiavo makes a public statement.