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Schiavo bill loses GOP backers
The House approves a bill to keep Terri Schiavo's feeding tube, but many bay area Republicans break ranks.
By CARRIE JOHNSON
Published March 18, 2005
TALLAHASSEE - Terri Schiavo's parents couldn't get their own legislators to vote this time around for a bill that would keep their daughter hooked to a feeding tube.
Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Treasure Island, and Rep. Everett Rice, R-Treasure Island, count Bob and Mary Schindler among their constituents. And yet both lawmakers voted Thursday to defeat proposals that would block the withholding of food and water from patients in a persistent vegetative state.
The House bill passed Thursday, 78-37. The Senate defeated a different version 21-16. "I voted no, because the last time I voted yes and it was the wrong vote," said Jones, who voted in 2003 in favor of "Terri's Law", which allowed Gov. Jeb Bush to override court decisions and order Schiavo's feeding tube reinserted.
Jones and Rice were among a surprisingly large number of Tampa Bay-area Republicans who broke party ranks and voted against the bill. The group included the woman who is second-in-command in the House, Rep. Leslie Waters, R-Seminole, the speaker pro tempore.
Most said they were philosophically opposed to involving government in issues they felt should be handled privately by families.
"It is my opinion that the Legislature should stay out of family court issues," Waters said. "Terri's family, Terri's doctors and clergy know best. Not people who have never met her."
Rep. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, said he also felt remorse after voting for Terri's Law in 2003.
"I think this was a family matter," Dean said. "I voted for it last year but after reflection, I had to vote against it."
Letters from constituents were also a factor. While nearly every lawmaker was deluged with e-mails from national organizations begging them to save Schiavo's life, local correspondents were more likely to ask them to stay out of the matter.
For example, of the 300 e-mails Rice received Wednesday, about 215 were from out of state and all asked him to vote for the bill. Of the 29 definitely from Rice's district, all but six asked him to vote against the bill. The origin of the remainder could not be determined.
Rep. David Russell, R-Spring Hill, who also voted against the bill, said the local letters were dramatically different from two years ago.
"It is almost a 180-degree turnaround," Russell said. "I received a number of communications from my constituents, many of them conservative Republicans, asking that we not intervene. And I listen to my constituents."
David Gibbs III, the Schindlers' attorney, said the family was disappointed by the outcome but was still optimistic a law could be passed in time to save their daughter. Late Thursday, they met with several senators to plead their case.
But it wasn't just Republicans from the Tampa Bay-area who broke ranks. Rep. Frank Peterman, D-St. Petersburg, was one of the few Democrats to vote in favor of the bill. Rep. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, who faces Peterman in a state Senate race next year, voted against it.
Times staff writers Lucy Morgan and Alisa Ulferts contributed to this report. Carrie Johnson can be reached at 850 224-7263 or cjohnson@sptimes.com
HOW THEY VOTED
Here is how Florida House members from the Tampa Bay area voted Thursday on a bill aimed at blocking the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. The bill passed 78-37.
YES: Kevin Ambler, R-Lutz; Kim Berfield, R-Clearwater; Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor; Faye Culp, R-Tampa; Frank Farkas, R-St. Petersburg; Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton; Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City; Ed Homan, R-Tampa; John Legg, R-Port Richey; Ken Littlefield, R-Dade City; Frank Peterman, D-St. Petersburg; Ron Reagan, R-Bradenton; Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland; Trey Traviesa, R-Tampa.
NO: Tom Anderson, R-Dunedin; Charlie Dean, R-Inverness; Bob Henriquez, D-Tampa; Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa; Everett Rice, R-Treasure Island; David Russell, R-Spring Hill; Leslie Waters, R-Seminole.
ABSENT: Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, who cast a no vote afterward that will not be included in the official tally.
Here is how senators from the Tampa Bay area voted Thursday. The vote defeating a similar measure was 21-16.
YES: Victor Crist, R-Tampa; Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey; Tom Lee, R-Brandon; Jim Sebesta, R-St. Petersburg.
NO: Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon; Dennis Jones, R-Treasure Island; Les Miller, D-Tampa.
REP. JUSTICE'S STATEMENT
Rep. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, was home Thursday when the Florida House approved legislation intended to block the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. He later recorded a no vote and issued this statement:
I lost both of my parents in the last six months. My dad died last fall. My mom last week.
I drove home in the middle of the night in order to be with her the night she died. I was able to hold her hand as she took her last breath and say goodbye. Around her bedside were her children, her brother and her good friend.
There was no room at her bedside for politicians.
I am not sure how appropriate it is for me to bring my personal life story into this political discussion. I do think that it is more appropriate than bringing some people's politics into my family's personal situation.
I do not know all the facts of the Schiavo family tragedy. But we cannot honestly debate this bill without acknowledging that this legislation is centered on this one family. Without the omniscience of God, it is impossible to determine who is right and who is wrong.
For me, after what my family has gone through in recent months, I cannot support having politicians in Tallahassee make that decision for another family when I wouldn't want them making it for mine.
My daily prayer includes a simple closing, "May your will be done." It will be my prayer again tonight.
[Last modified March 18, 2005, 00:42:17]
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