Replies

Bush Still Pushing For Schiavo Legislation

By JEROME R. STOCKFISCH

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Jeb Bush said Monday he will continue to press for state legislation addressing the Terri Schiavo case, but a group of Republicans who opposed a Senate bill last week appeared unyielding.
Bush held a news conference Monday with state Sen. Daniel Webster, R-Winter Garden, and state Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, sponsors of bills that would likely have left Schiavo's feeding tube intact. They were joined by Kate Adamson of Los Angeles, a stroke survivor and motivational speaker.

The governor spoke on the day that the U.S. Congress rushed through a new law granting federal court jurisdiction, and a U.S. district judge in Tampa held a two-hour hearing.

``I don't believe that takes away the responsibility of the Florida Legislature and this office to act,'' Bush said. ``We still have a little bit of work to do in the Florida Senate to convince a majority that's the proper way to go. I'm confident that we will do it.''

Advocates did indeed appear to have their work cut out. After a Schiavo bill passed handily Thursday in the state House, an amendment to a somewhat different bill died in the Senate on a 21-16 vote.

Nine Republicans joined 12 Democrats in spiking the Schiavo effort in the upper chamber. On Monday, at least six of the Republicans reiterated their opposition, often with harsh words.

``I am so disappointed with the Republican Party. You can quote me on that, being a long-term Republican,'' said state Sen. Mike Bennett, R- Bradenton. ``I'm very disappointed that the Republican Party ... [is] politicizing something instead of doing the right thing.''

State Sen. Dennis Jones described himself as ``a solid no'' vote. ``I voted wrong the first time and I'm not going to vote wrong this time,'' said the Treasure Island Republican, who voted in favor of 2003's Terri's Law.

Last week, House leaders successfully marshaled a bill that would prohibit the removal of a feeding tube from someone in a persistent vegetative state if the person gave no written directive or there was no clear and convincing evidence that he or she specified that food and water be withheld.

But in the Senate, the nine Republicans - all senior members who had been through an earlier campaign to pass Florida's ``Death With Dignity'' legislation - took a stand against changing existing state law.

That law allows oral directives for end-of-life care, which is what husband Michael Schiavo says his wife provided.

In the Florida Legislature, with strong Republican majorities in both houses and frequent party-line votes, the defeat was stunning.

``This is an issue that there will always be a difference of opinion on,'' said Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, the former president of his chamber.

``There are people who are just as Republican as the next Republican who are on different sides of this issue. It doesn't make them bad. God help us if we get to a situation where one attitude has to prevail within the party.''

King championed the ``Death With Dignity'' package of statutes in the 1990s after losing both of his parents to cancer. ``All we're doing is what we think is our right and our obligation, not necessarily as Republicans, but as human beings,'' he said. ``I have a personal feeling about what's right. I think that Terry is better off in heaven than in that bed.''

Fellow Republican Sens. Nancy Argenziano of Dunnellon, Burt Saunders of Naples and Paula Dockery of Lakeland, all said Monday they would not change their votes on the existing legislation that is technically still pending in the Senate. Republican Sens. Evelyn Lynn of Ormond Beach and Lisa Carlton of Sarasota declined to comment on the Schiavo issue. Sen. JD Alexander of Lake Wales was not in Tallahassee and could not be reached.

Bush said Monday he would also like to see legislation that would strip guardianship rights from someone like Michael Schiavo, who is living with another woman and has children with her.

Michael Schiavo's situation creates ``a serious conflict of interest,'' Bush said.

http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBA00POL6E.html

Senator James King championed the "Death With Dignity" package of Florida statutes in the 1990s.

"I have a personal feeling about what's right. I think that Terri is better off in heaven than in that bed."