Congress To Debate Terri Schiavo's Case Tonight
RUDI BAKHTIAR, CNN ANCHOR: A Democratic end around on Capitol Hill in the battle over Terri Schiavo's fate sets the stage for a midnight meeting for members of Congress. They're considered to be one of the most violent gangs on America's streets. Even its own members face death if they want out. This hour, a look at the gang, MS-13 as told by one of its members. And what parents can do to keep their kids away from gangs. Also, straight out of a sci-fi movie, a look at the soldiers of the future. You might say they have nerves of steel. Hello, everyone. Welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I am Rudi Bakhtiar. All of that and more after this check of the headlines for you. The life or death decision on Terri Schiavo may be up to Congress. The House is expected to vote on a bill tomorrow that could lead to doctors reinserting Schiavo's feeding tube. Democrats today temporarily blocked a Republican-led bill that would send Schiavo's case to federal court. We're going to have extensive live coverage of the case in just a few minutes. The sex offender suspected of kidnapping and killing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford makes his first court appearance today. A Florida judge set bond for John Couey on a probation violation charge. The judge did not set bond on a second charge of failing to register as a sex offender. Couey hasn't been charged in the Lunsford case yet. On this Palm Sunday, Pope John Paul II misses the start of Holy Week services for the first time in his papacy. The pope did appear before the faithful at his window at the Vatican after today's ceremony. The pope is still recovering from recent surgery. And the man who's car sent Michael Jay Fox "Back to the Future" has passed away. John DeLorean created the futuristic looking sports call the DeLorean. In the 1980s, the car was featured in "The Back to the Future" movies but proved to be a marketing failure. DeLorean himself was 80 years old. We begin this hour with the emotional and legal tug-of-war over Terri Schiavo. Today, is the brain-damaged woman's third day without food or water. She remains in a hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida. Our correspondents are monitoring different angles of the story. Joe Johns in on Capital Hill where there was a rare legislative session on the Schiavo case today. But first let's go to Bob Franken in Pinellas Park. Bob, what can you tell us?</s>BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Rudi, there's evidence that although national leaders are debating the outcome of this, this is really at its heart a bitter family dispute. Just a few minutes ago, the mother and father and blood relatives of Terri Schiavo were fighting a tough fight to try and get her feeding tube reinserted. Were denied access to the hospice where Terri Schiavo is. And they have complained they were kept out for several hours, although earlier in the day there had been some visits. It turns out, according to officials, that Mike Schiavo was inside with his wife. He is the one who has fought a year's long battle to get her feeding tube disconnect. According to a variety of sources, he has said that he did not want them in there when he was there because it would be of course awkward at very best. But just a couple of minutes ago, the family members, the immediate family members were escorted inside and will have another chance to visit Terri Schiavo. Terri Schiavo, of course, is somebody who has become a symbol. But as I said, at its very heart, this is really a very bitter battle between family members. And also a battle about whether killing her, letting her die would be killing her or would be an act of mercy. This is something that has been debated at highest government levels, but it is also as I said something that's very, very, very much being fought out in the room where she is seeking peace in this hospice -- Rudi.</s>BAKHTIAR: All right. Bob Franken, thank you for that report. Let's take a different angle now. Members of Congress will not be voting today on an emergency bill that would allow federal courts to decide the brain-damaged woman's fate. But a vote could happen at midnight. Our Joe Johns is on Capitol Hill with all of the details -- Joe.</s>JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I have to tell you, Rudi, things have changed very quickly on this story from time to time, simply because the Congress in some ways has been making it up as they go along. And so I have to tell you that some of that earlier information we had apparently is changing. What we're being told, of course, about that legislation that would allow the feeding tube of Terri Schiavo to be reinserted, also allowing standing for her parents to go into federal court, could in fact be on the floor of the House and the Senate by the end of this day. The first information we have is that the House of Representatives now apparently looking toward convening around 9:00 this evening to begin a debate that would end up with a vote just past midnight, just past midnight this evening. That is in spite of the fact that a number of Democrats, we're not sure how many and we should probably should categorize it as a handful, are saying they don't thank legislation is the right way to go.</s>SEN. BILL FRIST, (R) TENNESSEE: This action will allow The Senate to come back into session at a moments notice to consider the legislation. The Senate will remain here throughout the afternoon and, if necessary, late into the evening in order to act immediately on this bill once it is ready. Terri Schiavo, because time is of essence, Terri Schiavo is being denied life-saving nutrition at this very moment.</s>JOHNS: So that actually of course was Senate majority leader Bill Frist talking about the urgency of the situation here in Washington, D.C. Some indication, also, that the Senate is trying to figure out a way, actually, to get the bill on the floor passed, perhaps just waived through on unanimous consent this evening before the House even acts. So, things are very fluid here, changing from minute to minute. And Rudi, we will keep you informed.</s>BAKHTIAR: All right. John Johns at the Capital. Well, to press that point, President Bush even cut his stay at his Texas ranch short and is heading back to Washington right now to stand by in case he is need to sign the Schiavo bill. Her case is fueling the highly charged debate about when life begins and ends. Our Dana Bash has that part of the story.</s>DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Listen to how conservative politicians are describing their quest to keep Terri Schiavo alive.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It has to do with the culture of life.</s>SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: The society that is built on a culture of life.</s>BASH: Culture of life is a catch phrase for abortion opponent. Now Terri Schiavo is exhibit A of an evolving movement and a broadening debate over how to define right to life.</s>WENDY WRIGHT, CONCERNED WOMEN FOR AMERICA: This case is really mobilizing people and helping them to understand that the attack on the culture of life extends beyond abortion.</s>BASH: From researching stem cells to cloning to ventilators and feeding tubes, with each scientific development new questions about when life starts, when it ends and who decides.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We must strive to build a culture of life. Medical research can help us reach that goal by developing treatments and cures that save lives and help people overcome disabilities.</s>BASH: Some religious conservatives want the definition of life as broad as possible. For them, Schiavo is a rallying cry. In phone calls and on Web sites, groups urge activists to call lawmakers. G.O.P. leaders, wading in unchartered waters to change Schiavo's fate, insist they're following the spirit of the constitution not politics.</s>REP. TOM DELAY, (R) TEXAS: This is about Terri and her life and her family that wants to take care of her. It has nothing to do with politics. And it's disgusting to even suggest it.</s>BASH: But Republican talking points circulating in the Senate suggest some do see a potential upside against Democrats on the ballot next year. "This is a great political issue because Senator Nelson of Florida has already refused to become a co-sponsor and this is a tough issue for Democrats," a G.O.P. memo says.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. How are you you? You look so pretty.</s>MARTHA BURK, NATL. COUNCIL OF WOMEN'S ORGS: I think the Democrats are moving toward the right culturally. I think they are trying to look like junior Republicans. And in some cases, like this one, we see it most starkly.</s>BASH: Democrats stung from a series of electoral losses among social conservatives are by in large biting their tongues on the Schiavo matter. Dana Bash, CNN, Crawford, Texas.</s>BATKHIAR: Senate major leader Bill Frist says he has neither seen nor authorized the Republican talking point and condemns its content. He ads that his interest in the case is, quote, to assure that Mrs. Schiavo has another chance at life. And let's see if we have those shots. That is it. That is the shot of Air Force One taxiing on the runway. President Bush is on that plane. He cut his stay at his Texas ranch short, heading back to Washington right now. There he is, taxiing on the runway. He's there to be able to sign the Schiavo bill if he needs to sign it later on this evening. We'll be bringing you updates throughout the evening on this very compelling case, very emotional case of Terri Schiavo. Well, this often heated and impassioned debate over Schiavo has been waging in the courts for more than a decade now. She collapsed in her home in 1990 when her heart temporarily stopped cutting oxygen off to her brain. Eight years later, eight years later, her husband Michael Schiavo filed the first petition to remove her feeding tube. After two years of bitter court wrangling, a judge ruled that the tube could be removed. But it wasn't removed until more than a year later in April of 2001. And it was out for only two days before being reinserted. Then in November 2002, a Florida judge orders the judge to remove the feeding tube again. That following October, a Florida appeals court refused to block that order and the tube is removed the next day. It was reinserted six days after that. After the Florida legislation passed Terri's Law. In September of last year, Florida Supreme Court declared Terri's law unconstitutional. And last month, the Florida judge again gave Michael Schiavo permission to order his wife's tube removed. Friday it was despite federal subpoenas. And yesterday, congress convened to pass emergency legislation in the Schiavo case. And that is where we are right now. We're going to have more on the Terri Schiavo case in a few minutes. It is unprecedented for Congress to draft a bill for an individual, but is it unconstitutional? We're going to talk with a constitutional lawyer about that. Also ahead...</s>MARK LUNSFORD, JESSICA LUNSFORD'S FATHER: I need everybody's support on pushing the death penalty upon this man.</s>BAKHTIAR: The father of Jessica Lunsford launches a new fight on the day her suspected killer goes to court. Plus, they are the ultimate soldiers capable of going anywhere, anytime with no danger to human life. We're going to take a look at the battle fighters of the future. And a decade ago, Tokyo was caught off guard. A deadly gas unleashed in a crowded subway. See what steps are being taken to prevent another surprise attack like that one.