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.

[The Wizard]

I think this is between them and WE should all butt out

[Theodore R.]

Dr. Dobson told the radio listeners that Jim King had blocked consideration of "Terri's bill," and it is dead. He held out some kind of "hope" that someone may yet intervene, but he had no idea who that might be.

He also noted that at least a dozen lawyers have weighed in that Bush can intervene in this situation to save life, but he noted Bush's commitment to the strict interpretation of the law in Terri's fight. No hope for Terri, and we already knew that, didn't we?

What's a Republican Party for?

[nickcarraway]

Sorry, I didn't realize that you had to pay. I only heard of the show recently, when a local station started to play it. I know he hasd been talking about Terri Schiavo for a long time now.

[PeyersPatches]

I think this is between them and WE should all butt out


Sure am glad the French didn't think that back during the Revolution.....

[nickcarraway]

Great

[Deo volente]

Just posted in the past hour. Some hopeful news, and also more Jeb Bush lame excuses.

LATEST INFORMATION:

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031020/APN/310200859



Schiavo life fight waged in Tampa court, state capitol

By VICKIE CHACHERE
Associated Press Writer

TAMPA, Fla. --
A watchdog agency for the disabled pleaded Monday with a federal judge to keep a brain-damaged woman in the process of starving to death alive long enough to investigate a claim that she is being abused by her husband.

The court argument came on a day of frantic activity from Tampa to Tallahassee by backers of Bob and Mary Schindler's efforts to keep their daughter Terri Schiavo alive and reverse a court order which is allowing their son-in-law to end her life with last week's removal of a feeding tube.

U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday did not immediately rule on the request for an injunction from the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, the state-appointed organization which monitors the treatment of disabled adults in Florida. Merryday said he intends to issue a decision by the day's end.

Gordon Scott, an attorney for the Tallahassee-based organization, wants a 10-day injunction to give it time to investigate whether the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube is an act of abuse. Scott said after talking to her parents and a neurologist, he is not convinced that Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state and is not feeling pain from starvation and dehydration.

Scott said his agency has a right to investigate whether Terri Schiavo was mistreated regardless what the judge rules, but wanted to keep her alive in the event the investigation turns up evidence she can feel what is happening to her. He didn't specifically ask that the feeding tube be reinserted, but that doctors do what is needed to keep her alive during the investigation.

George Felos, Michael Schiavo's attorney, said the federal judge has no jurisdiction to involve itself in the case and characterized the group's efforts as yet another attempt to undo repeated state court rulings giving Michael Schiavo permission to carry out his wife's wishes.

Michael Schiavo ordered his wife's feeding tube removed last Wednesday following a long-legal battle with his in-laws over her fate. Terri Schiavo suffered severe brain damage in 1990 following a heart attack and has been declared by a Pinellas Circuit Court judge to be in a persistent vegetative state.

Michael Schiavo has said his 39-year-old wife never would have wanted to be kept alive artificially. Her parents contend she has enough brain function to respond to them and express emotions.

Meanwhile, at the Pinellas Park hospice where Terri Schiavo is being cared for, her family said Terri Schiavo appears to be in stable condition.

"She seems to be alert," said her brother, Bob Schindler Jr. "But every day that goes by, we're getting into a crucial time for her. She's got an incredible will to live."

In Tallahassee, some lawmakers who gathered for the special session on economic development issues on Monday discussed trying to pass legislation that could save Schiavo's life.

House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, R-Plant City, said negotiations were under way to see if some kind of a moratorium could be passed Monday to keep Schiavo alive.

Lawmakers were eyeing "moratorium on the removal of nutrition and hydration from those who do not have a written directive and where there's a contest among the family about how to deal with this," Byrd said.

"So it would be a very, very narrow approach, but it would be one that would apply to Terri's case," he said.

Senate President Jim King, R-Jacksonville, said he was not in favor of taking up the Schiavo case.

"Our family prays that the members, including Senate President Jim King, will put any politics aside and approve this bill for the sake of Terri's life and also for the sake of future Terri Schiavos," said sister Suzanne Carr.

Gov. Jeb Bush told the Schindlers that his staff would search for legal ways to save their daughter's life, but they haven't yet found a way.

"The legal ways, the remedies, don't exist," Bush said Monday. "We've tried every possible legal remedy and have been shut down by the courts."

Bush said he's done everything he can.

"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," he said.

Attorneys last week crafted a motion to compel Bush to order an investigation into their allegations that Michael Schiavo has abused his wife. They wanted him to order to the tube reinserted so law enforcement can investigate, but two separate state courts rejected the motion.

[viaveritasvita]

Most stunning throughout this lengthy, three-year battle to save Terri Schiavo's life has been the lack of consistent action by Florida's Catholic bishops, especially Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg. It is inexcusable that these shepherds find it acceptable to sit by virtually silent while one of their flock is being brutally and publicly murdered.

Catholic Bishops in America will be getting a BIG piece of my mind soon (and not only about Terri). When my blood pressure is at normal levels, I can barely stand the Catholic leadership. But today...well, God forgive me for my thoughts about them.

I pray that the Catholic laity wakes up big time and takes back the leadership of their church!

My God, what is it going to take??? <><

[sweetliberty]

"I can't believe she totally has NO CLUE as to what kind of man he really is."

Have you heard the taped interview with the girlfriend he had prior to this one? Click on the link below and scroll down to where it says "girlfriend" and click on that. Just a little more insight into the kind of scum Michael Schiavo is. No matter what, this SOB cannot be allowed to walk scott free, fat and happy!

Interview with another of Schiavo's girlfrineds

[pollywog]

I think someone posted earlier that we were listening to/watching the wrong FL proceedings... maybe Sean knows something we don't know (we can only hope)

That was me angelwings49. I had received a email from Lisa, on the front lines at the vigil and she said I was NOT watching the right hearing. Later on she emailed me back and said sadly that she found out I was right. * sad*

[Theodore R.]

They were all laughing, having fun.

So it seems that all those years of fighting to bring FL a Republican legislature was ultimately an exercise in futility: really meaningless.

[JustPiper]

Thanx Meek! I've been waiting for word all day, caught this thread when it was posted. The effects of dehydration are affecting her, 6th day correct? Why doesn't her jo of a husband just get a divorce?!

[mtbopfuyn]

I didn't want to believe what an earlier post said, that being, they just want to say "gee I tried" and play both sides of it, but I am beginning to believe that now.

I said around last Friday that JEB would probably talk the good talk but in the end not ever lift a finger for her. I'm afraid that's happened. I'm glad I don't live in Floriduh, the Death State, but if I did he'd never ever get my vote and I'd try my darnedest to see he'd lose ever election he set his sights for. He has his share of blood on his hands the same as the other three evil doers.

[huck von finn]

Dr. Dobson told the radio listeners that Jim King had blocked consideration of "Terri's bill," and it is dead.

How could anyone intervene if Byrd's office has said that there was no bill in the first place?

[isrul]

Yeah, the Pope was conspicuously absent in this. He has not hesitated, in the past, to plea for the lives of the condemned in this country.

[pollywog]

Yes Patriot, we were watching the right one.*sigh* Lisa emailed me back and stood corrected. She is on the front lines right now at the Vigil and had received miscommunication.

[Theodore R.]

The only thing that will get the church's attention is the withholding of tithes.

[Deo volente]

"In Tallahassee, some lawmakers who gathered for the special session on economic development issues on Monday discussed trying to pass legislation that could save Schiavo's life.

House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, R-Plant City, said negotiations were under way to see if some kind of a moratorium could be passed Monday to keep Schiavo alive.

Lawmakers were eyeing "moratorium on the removal of nutrition and hydration from those who do not have a written directive and where there's a contest among the family about how to deal with this," Byrd said.

"So it would be a very, very narrow approach, but it would be one that would apply to Terri's case," he said. "


IF JOHNNIE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS,
WHAT THE H*** IS THIS ALL ABOUT??!!

WHY WASN'T THIS BILL INTRODUCED TODAY???
WHO GOT TO SPEAKER JOHNNIE BYRD???

[Avoiding_Sulla]

Do you think that might just get elderly voters to support a real conservative instead of falling for the mirage of free prescription drugs?

Yes.

Is this yet an element you're addressing in your great presentation of conservative mores?

[CindyDawg]

Never give up hope until Terri is gone. It may be God's will to take her home. We knew this when we started out. If Terri does die, lot's of work will still need to be done. We may not be able to help this girl but we can sure put up a fight to help others and have judges replaced. As far as JB goes, I too am extremely disappointed that he hasn't been able to do anything else. I will have to think hard about voting for him if he decides to run for president. Yes, the law may have not been on his side but you have to have the ability to wheel and deal with people to get things done. If he can't manage state judges and senators I think the DC one's will eat him alive. That said, the democrats lurking here can take a hike because we will survive this and come out stronger in the end.

[Theodore R.]

Who appoint Merryday? If it was Reagan or the first Bush, there may be a glimmer of hope. If it was Carter or Clinton, forget it.

What happened to this Judge Moore?