Reply #41: Feeding tube case heads to US court (only 3 Rep. Sen. voted)

[rodeodance]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/03/21/feeding_tube_case_heads_to_us_court/

Feeding tube case heads to US court
Congress votes to let judge decide; Bush endorses bill

By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | March 21, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Congress early today voted to grant a federal court the power to review the case of Terri Schiavo, clearing the way for the brain-damaged Florida woman to have the feeding tube that has kept her alive replaced.

The House, meeting in an extraordinary overnight session that began on Palm Sunday, voted 203 to 58 at about 12:35 a.m. to empower a federal judge to rule on Schiavo's case. The vote followed by several hours a voice vote that approved the bill in the Senate, and President Bush flew back to Washington from his Texas ranch yesterday specifically so he could immediately sign the bill.

The moves, backed by House and Senate Republican leaders, appear likely to extend the lengthy political and legal saga involving Schiavo, who has been incapacitated for 15 years. Lawyers in Florida were poised to rush to court as soon as Bush's approval was finalized to ask a judge to order the feeding tube that was removed Friday to be reinserted, ensuring that Schiavo will be alive to have her case reviewed.

''The Florida courts are enforcing a merciless directive to deprive Theresa Marie Schiavo of her right to life," said House Judiciary Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., a Wisconsin Republican. ''No right is more sacred than the right to life."

Just three senators, all Republicans, were present for the Senate vote. But the House vote was delayed by nearly 12 hours by Democrats who objected to the measure being taken up without debate, and several Democrats continued to argue against the action on the House floor.....