Gov. Bush calls special session over Terri Schiavo

Firstcoastnews.com ^ | 10-20-03 | Cynthia Capers

[JulieRNR21]

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- According to a news release sent by the Terry Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, Florida Speaker Johnnie Byrd will introduce "Terri's Bill" during the special session Monday.

The bill would put an immediate moratorium on all dehydration and starvation deaths in Florida. Meanwhile, supporters of Terri Schiavo showed up Sunday outside a Pinellas Park hospice.

Doctors say Schiavo has been in a vegetative state since complications from a heart attack in 1990. Her husband was granted a court order that her feeding tube be removed, saying his wife wouldn't have wanted to be kept alive.

[Deo volente]

They're trying to "clean up" the Bill to prevent the COURTS from screwing everything up again!

Amendment passes with no debate.

On to next amendment?

OH NO now there's a senator who says he was the "right to die" attorney on an early case, a man with ALS who "decided" to die.

Oh boy, I'm going to lose my breakfast!!

Didn't get his name.

"This young lady, who's in a vegetative state. I haven't seen the facts, there seems to be some brain stem activity which is necessary to sustain life..." (no comment)

Darn, I didn't get the nature of the amendment they're going to vote on...sorry
something to do with a "guardian ad litem". That sounds hopeful.

[Ohioan from Florida]

I'm just now able to connect to the internet. Have been having problems all day. Don't know how long it will last. Has it been passed for sure? If so, glory hallelujah!

[iowamomforfreedom]

this is the one I have:

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

[Humidston]

Kline - speaking on guardian ad litem (sp)
What role for guardian to play?

Ans - Gov might decide best interests of patient if re-inserting tube might be more painful. 'This PERSON (TERRI) IS STARVING AND IT'S PAINFUL.'

Guardian can ONLY make recommendations to gov.

[Humidston]

(They're just adding technical amendments right now)

[honeygrl]

Senate is debating it right now. I can see the video but I can't hear any sound. Hopefully everyone will keep us updated that has sound. My speakers are being evil today.

[Deo volente]

See if this link works:

http://199.44.254.202/stations/channelB.asx

[inquest]

Is there even a single senator who's expressing outrage over the fact that the Senate's just wasting time tacking on amendments, instead of simply passing the HR's version? Because now that there are amendments, it'll have to get sent back to the HR, and then they'll have to consider the amendments, and then amend the amendments, and then send it back to the Senate, etc.

Is no one at all raising a stink about this?

[Humidston]

So far, no stinks.

Still debating/discussing technicalities RE; guardian ad litem, etc. Who answers to whom? Etc

[SeattleTiger]

They're trying to ensure it is constitutional. I am sorry I came to this late, but does anyone know who the lady is? She is a Florida senator, I believe, but has a New Yawk accent. My computer picture is rather bad, but she sounds somewhat like Terri's mother.

[Florida Mama]

TELL THIS LATELY TO SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN ALREADY... Good greif

[Humidston]

Sen "Lenier" now speaking (another yankee accent!)

She's a dem, I'm betting! "Trouble with this amendment"

No will, no written words on death, perhaps we'll set precedent for guardian ad lit.

Mike Bennett - "Hard time following ... if guard. added, tube removed. Wouldn't that person have input to re-insert tube? Isn't there some legal challenge? Guardian have NO authority?"

[honeygrl]

The guy that just spoke said he expects her feeding tube to be reinserted today if this passes!!

[Humidston]

Is there debate or questions??

Say Aye
AMEND ADOPTED

(MORE AMENDS)

[Humidston]

Are there questions of sponser
Arrenburg recognized... "Who's "family"??"

Yes, defination of fam.
(All members are defined)

Spouse, siblings, next of kin...

I JUST LOST MY SOUND!!

[windchime]

FYI

CNN announced a little while ago that FELOS has a press statement at 2:00 p.m. They sounded like they would cover it.

[OXENinFLA]

me too.

[So Cal Rocket]

Important note: The Senate has amended the bill... meaning the Senate version and the House version are different. The differences must be worked out in Conference - and then sent back to the House and Senate floors for another vote before the bill goes to Jeb.

[honeygrl]

I just lost picture and sound!