UPDATE: Congressional Efforts Intensify as Terri's Feeding Tube is Removed
I just finished a meeting with my legislative team on Capitol Hill. I have been told that the House of Representatives plans to return on Monday to consider the Terri Schiavo legislation. The Senate has delayed its Easter break and we will continue to put pressure on members of Congress to reach a solution - to agree on language for a bill that will save the life of Terri Schiavo. I am communicating with leadership that we are now approaching 50,000 names on our peitition from people across America who want to see Terri live -- who want to see a legislative solution to this very tragic situation. Obviously, with the removal of the feeding tube this afternoon, time is of the essence. I am working with our legal and legislative teams to determine what action can be taken. I would not be surprised to see the Supreme Court of the United States asked to get involved once again. Please continue to pray for Terri and her family during this very difficult time.
POSTED: March 18, 2005 5:32pm
The feeding tube that has been keeping Terri Schiavo alive has now been removed at the Florida hospice where she is living. This triggers death by starvation and dehydration - a very slow and painful process. I am working with our legislative team in Washington to encourage passage of a federal piece of legislation that will propel this issue into the federal court system. I also am working to determine what can be done regarding the Congressional subpoenas that were issued today and ignored by the Florida court that ordered the removal of Terri's feeding tube.
POSTED: March 18, 2005 4:10pm
A very troubling development just moments ago in a Florida courtroom. Judge Greer has ordered Terri's feeding tube to be removed immediately. He has ordered officials at the hospice where she lives to comply with his court order. The judge rejected a request from Congressional attorneys to leave the stay in place because Congressional subpoenas were issued this morning to Terri and her husband.
POSTED: March 18, 2005 1:55pm
A Florida judge has issued a temporary stay - putting on hold the removal of Terri's feeding tube. Judge Greer, who has been presiding over these issues in the Terri Schiavo case, is to make the final determination on whether that stay will remain in place. He is talking with attorneys from Congress who issued Congressional subpoenas to Terri, her husband and hospice officials requesting they participate in Congressional hearings on the matter. I cannot imagine Judge Greer ignoring these subpoenas and permitting the removal of Terri's feeding tube. I will be discussing this case this afternoon on CNN's Crossfire. When further developments occur, I will post them here in the trial notebook section of our website.
POSTED: March 18, 2005 1:15pm
I just finished my radio broadcast and a series of meetings in Washington this morning with leadership in both the House and Senate. The Congressional subpoenas that have been issued to Terri Schiavo, Michael Schiavo, her husband, and medical officials at the hospice where Terri lives represents a lawful and appropriate response.
Sen. Arlen Specter, who heads the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a letter this morning reminding everyone that failure to abide by a Congressional subpoena could result in a felony. As I post this, Florida Judge Greer is on a conference call with attorneys from the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate concerning the court-order that is in place to remove Terri's feeding tube minutes from now. The Congressional attorneys are urging the Judge to issue a stay to keep Terri's nutrition and hydration tubes in place. I cannot imagine that Judge Greer will ignore the subpoenas that have been issued by Congress.
I want to thank House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and the many others who were involved in launching this investigation into Terri's case.
Congress has the authority to investigate this issue. They should. The subpoenas issued and ensuing investigation should result in a life-saving move keeping Terri on nutrition and hydration tubes.
The push now intensifies to get legislation through in Washington and in Florida. Now more than 42,000 people signed on to our petition in support of Terri. That has made a tremendous difference. I am hopeful Judge Greer will issue a stay this afternoon in Terri's case and I want to have 75,000 names on our petition next week as Congress continues its work in passing legislation to save Terri's life. If you haven't added your name, this is the day to do it. Sign the petition now. I will keep you posted as developments unfold this afternoon through my trial notebook.