Senate panel approves bill to let Bush intervene in Schiavo case with 10-2 Vote

ABC Action News ^ | Oct 21, 2003 | AP

[amdgmary]

Senate panel approves bill to let Bush intervene in Schiavo case an Associated Press / ABC Action News report 10/21/03 related story: Judge hears Terri Schiavo supporters' last hope (10/20/03)

TALLAHASSEE - A state Senate panel approved legislation Tuesday that would allow Gov. Jeb Bush to order a feeding tube be reinserted in a brain-damaged woman in defiance of a court order that allowed her husband to remove the tube.

The bill would give the governor 15 days to order a feeding tube reinserted into Terri Schiavo, one of the nation's longest and most bitter euthanasia cases.

The Senate Rules & Calendar Committee approved the bill on a 10-2 vote. The full Senate planned to consider the legislation Tuesday evening. The House passed a similar bill 68-23 Monday.

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.

Republican lawmakers say that where judges might be wrong, especially in cases like Schiavo's, such legislation is desperately needed. Opponents say the measure is unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, a federal judge in Tampa is expected to rule as early as Tuesday on a request by a state agency for the disabled that Schiavo be kept alive so it could investigate a claim that she is being abused by having the tube removed.

[SwordofTruth]

I hope people care enough about me to intervene so I can stay in that wonderful state of life for as long as science can manage.

You consider food and water modern science?

No wonder you don't have a clue.

[carton253]

That is totally the opposite of what I've been hearing. Oh my... please let me know...

[GirlShortstop]

Senate panel approves bill to let Bush intervene in Schiavo case with 10-2 Vote

Reading this gave me chills... continued prayers for Terri bump.

[MHGinTN]

If they can just delay it a few more hours, Michael Schiavo and Judge Greer's ward will need kidney dialysis to keep her body alive. Then the debate can be shifted legitimately from Jeb Bush's indecisive leadership to the state's responsibility for extended life care and quality of life when it requires machines to keep a person alive. Wouldn't want to move too quickly. [A man of words but not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds.]

[AFPhys]

praying for a vote in the FLSenate pronto...

[Tax-chick]

A federal judge can intervene to say this is unconstitutional. The state courts might even rule it such first.

I don't mean to be rude, but don't you think that a situation where a judge says, "It's unconstitutional to feed people when I say you can't feed them!" is absolute gibberish, Constitutionally-speaking?

The legislature is intended to act as a restraint on out-of-control judges (and vice versa). The executive, not the judiciary, has the police power.

It's very disturbing that the other branches of the government would allow a single judge's whim to have this much impact for this long.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Bttt...

[m1-lightning]

A federal judge can intervene to say this is unconstitutional. The state courts might even rule it such first.

You mean a judge WILL intervene and rule it unconstitutional. We've come to the days where judges make laws and break laws. Judges have the authority to give court orders which may as well be the same as congressional law. Judge Dredd has ordered the execution of a woman and his judicial buddies will cover his back. The biggest mistake the framers of the Constitution made was giving life terms to judges and not giving the Congress authority to remove radical judges. Only a judge can remove another judge.

[GYPSY286]

Can Michael refuse her dialysis too?

[Tax-chick]

Yes, please check up if you can ... I don't want to e-mail the Senator if he's not the problem.

[pollywog]

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.

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Senator King is the one not allowing the bill to come to a vote in the Senate

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No. Jim King wanted to introduce the bill as I see it. Anyone else?? or am I reading something into this article that is not there.READ ABOVE!!!!!!!!!!

[pickyourpoison]

We'll need the names of the 2 that voted against Terri. No compassion for them if their names are ever on the voter ballot.

[kenth]

Heaven help Terri, and give her strength.

This is wonderful news. Last nights vote and the awareness of the legislature was nothing short of miraculous. Most expounded the truth, which was something we were sure they didn't see.

My shame is in not raising my outcry to its current level months ago, at the very least.

[carton253]

Sorry, about the bad info... but all news reports I have heard has Senator King holding the bill up.

[AFPhys]

they crafted this bill to apply ONLY to Terri. before that King was expressing skepticism about the wisdom of such a bill. i don't believe he has fought against this narrow bill.

that being said, i'm angry that it is so narrowly crafted, but that's a battle for another time - this must pass NOW (like, three days ago) to save her... no time for philosophical arguments here.

[Aracelis]

Opponents say the measure is unconstitutional.

What is these folks don't get about "...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"????

[carton253]

According to that article, you are correct. According to the news accounts, he is the one holding the bill up.

If he is the President of the Senate... then he can propose the bill, so what's the hold up?

Thank you for your investigation of this.

[Tax-chick]

Thanks.

[Valpal1]

The full Senate planned to consider the legislation Tuesday evening.

I can't believe this, they are waiting till this evening? Must have arm twisting to do.

[Catspaw]

If he was holding up the bill, it wouldn't have gotten to the Senate rules committee or be scheduled for a vote later today.