Passage of the |
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Rochester Area Right To Life |
Federal Terri's Law and the Compromise Replacement
The House and the Senate both passed versions of a law to ensure that Terri Schiavo's parents could take her case to the federal court system. However, the bills were not identical and were therefore of no use in preventing the removal of Terri's feeding tube. In an effort to preserve Terri's life, the leaders of the two houses came up with a compromise bill that pertained only to Terri. The Senate voted to pass it using a voice vote. The House convened Sunday to vote, but "a few Democrats" refused to allow a voice vote, insisting instead on a roll call vote, necessarily delaying the vote until the "next day." The House leadership therefore scheduled the roll call vote for shortly after midnight Monday morning. The passage of the bill was announced and the House adjourned immediately, around 12:45 AM. The bill was sent to President Bush, who signed it into law less than an hour later.
It is heart-warming to see the vast number of Representatives who changed their family plans and hurried back to Washington to help a handicapped woman; a handicapped woman whose parents and siblings have sought so earnestly to allow her to retain her life and get the rehabilitative therapy that was promised but not delivered.
National Right to Life points out that there were a few Members who did fly to DC for the vote but "ended up missing the vote by a few minutes because of delays or flight availability." Therefore, being listed in the "not voting" table does not mean that a given person necessarily opposed the bill.
FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 90
(Republicans in roman; Democrats in italic; Independents underlined)
S 686 2/3
YEA-AND-NAY 21-Mar-2005 12:45 AM
QUESTION: On Motion to
Suspend the Rules and Pass
BILL TITLE: For the relief
of the parents of Theresa Marie Schiavo
---- YEAS 203 ---
Aderholt |
Fortenberry |
Michaud |
---- NAYS 58 ---
Baldwin |
Gutierrez |
Payne |
---- NOT VOTING 174 ---
Abercrombie |
Herger |
Pastor |
Updated on RARTL March 21, 2005
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