Posted on 10/21/2003 5:55:07 AM PDT by varina davis
Fla. Senate Gets Into Comatose Woman Tiff
October 21, 2003 07:49 AM EDT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida House lawmakers stepped into the contentious battle over the fate of a brain-damaged woman slowly starving to death, voting the governor new powers to restore her feeding tube.
The Florida Senate scheduled a vote Tuesday on a House-passed bill to let Gov. Jeb Bush intervene in the case of Terri Schiavo, one of the nation's longest and most bitter euthanasia cases.
Schiavo has been at the center of a court battle between her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, and her husband, Michael Schiavo. The parents want Terri Schiavo to live, and her husband says she would rather die.
The Florida Supreme Court has twice refused to hear the case, and it also has been rejected for review by the U.S. Supreme Court. Last week, a Florida appeals court again refused to block removal of the tube.
The House measure would give the state's governor 15 days to order a feeding tube to be reinserted in cases like Schiavo's. The governor's power would be limited to cases where a person has left no living will, is in a persistent vegetative state, has had nutrition and hydration tubes removed and where a family member has challenged the removal.
Bush said in a statement earlier Monday that lawmakers understand the "unique and tragic circumstances of Ms. Schiavo's case, and I am hopeful the Legislature will pass a bill immediately."
The House voted 68-23 for the bill late Monday. The Senate Rules Committee planned to take the bill up Tuesday morning, with the full Senate scheduling a vote by early evening.
George Felos, attorney for Michael Schiavo, said he thinks the legislation would be unconstitutional. He said it is Terri Schiavo's right under the Florida Constitution to not be kept alive artificially.
Court-appointed doctors have described the 39-year-old woman as being in a vegetative state, caused when her heart stopped in 1990 from a suspected chemical imbalance. Her feeding tube was removed Wednesday.
Doctor said she will die in a week to 10 days without the tube.
Schiavo's family members believe she is capable of learning how to eat and drink on her own and say she has shown signs of trying to communicate and could be rehabilitated. Michael Schiavo says he is carrying out his wife's wishes that she not be kept alive artificially.
During a two-hour debate in the House, several Democrats argued that the Constitution doesn't allow the Legislature to give governors the power to overrule the courts.
"This bill so oversteps our role it ... turns democracy on its head," Rep. Dan Gelber said.
But Republicans said that where judges might be wrong, especially in cases like Schiavo's, such legislation is desperately needed.
"The Constitution is supposed to protect the people of this state," said Rep. Sandy Murman. "Who is protecting this girl?"
The House action came hours after a state agency for the disabled asked a U.S. judge in Tampa to keep the woman alive so it could investigate a claim that she is being abused by having the tube removed. The judge was expected to rule as early as Tuesday.
You've got more faith than I do.
LQ
That is because it's what the Courts have decided
But they also show the video of Terry that shows she is not .. which will get some to ask questions and look into the case
'We the people' are the final arbiter not the courts, particularly concerning His Fecalness, 'judge' Greer.
Curtis Sliwa and Ron Kuby are talking about this on WABC radio now!
Just posted on another thread:
I'm shocked! Ronnie "the Commie" Kuby (on the WABC-New York Curtis and Kuby radio program) is for saving the life of Terri!
Kuby tells the story of his own father, who was dying of throat cancer. His father at first stated that he "wouldn't want to live without a larynx."
BUT THEN, when it came time to decide whether to have the operation or no, Kuby's father changed his mind and decided he wanted to live!
Kuby notes that Terri's parents have volunteered to care for her, says "we certainly should not starve her to death."
Kuby, the ultra-left pro-choicer, sayS: "In this case we should err on the side of life"
Kuby says:
IF I'M EVER IN A VEGETATIVE STATE, ASSUME i WANT TO LIVE! STAY AWAY FROM THAT PLUG!
For all we should care, let Michael get a fortune equal to Bill Gates'. It won't follow him to the judgment seat of God.
Actually it's not the "Courts." It's Judge Greer, and Judge Greer alone. Appeals courts can't overturn his "finding of fact," they can only challenge the litigative process.
Top photo is Vernon Robinson (Congressional Candidate-NC05) and the young lady with the scarf is "TaxDeduction2".
Bottom photo is "TaxDeduction1".
This man is bent on killing Terri. He has much to hide.
You didn't have to tell us this was an AP headline, it stinks enough to make it's origin known. Another fine example of the kind of manevolent compassion that is typical of liberal socialism. The same kind that doesn't even blink at fifteen thousand deaths of the elderly in a nation the size of Texas.
If fifteen thousand elderly died in Texas due to a heat wave can you imagine the shock and horror from one end of this nation to the other? The accusations and condemnation of conservative leadership and against Rick Perry? Any tool will do for the party of demoncrats who are only capable of a false compassion when it promotes their agenda.
That is EXACTLY what my father did. He was set in his mind that he would never want a laryngectomy. When he was told that without it he would die sooner, he chose the laryngectomy. The will to live will make you do things that you swore you would never do.
You are correct .. my mistake
TONIGHT?????? I read last night that they were to convene at 8am today. By stalling this, they are once again NOT acting!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.