TALLAHASSEE (FBW) – The Florida Legislature capped its 2004 Session near midnight April 30, with the House finally capitulating to the Senate on a bill which will place on November’s ballot a constitutional amendment requiring parents to be notified of a minor seeking an abortion.

TALLAHASSEE (FBW) – In the midst of the waning days of the legislative session, members of the Florida Legislature and Gov. Jeb Bush welcomed author Rick Warren to the state capital to teach his book, The Purpose Driven Life. Visiting Tallahassee at the invitation of a bipartisan coalition of House and Senate members who participate in a weekly Bible study, Warren told a reception of local pastors that the U.S. is at the “tipping point” of a spiritual awakening.

TALLAHASSEE (FBW) – Florida Senate President James E. “Jim” King (R-Jacksonville) apologized to members of the legislative body April 28 after Florida Baptist pastor Clayton Cloer invoked the name of Jesus in his prayer in the Senate chamber as guest chaplain of the day. King’s comments resulted in media coverage of the incident across the state, while the pastor of First Baptist Church of Central Florida in Orlando insisted that his prayer was consistent with guidelines given to guest chaplains.

Just as Florida Speaker Johnnie Byrd (R-Plant City) has rightly and courageously championed putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot requiring parental notice for minors seeking abortions, he should now support legislation to change statutes which currently permit minors to be subjected to execution.

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-Florida state senators engaged in nearly two hours of impassioned debate April 15 before passing a measure designed to let voters decide if parents should be notified of their minor child’s abortion.

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)-Calling it an expansion of gambling, Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed a measure March 31 that would have allowed veterans groups, charities and churches to sell instant pull-tab bingo cards.

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)-The Florida House of Representatives gave a tentative nod March 11 to a bill calling for an amendment that would enact legislation requiring parents to be notified if a minor seeks an abortion.

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)-A bill on parental notification of parents of minors seeking an abortion quickly rose to the top of the agenda during the opening week of the 2004 Florida Legislative Session which began March 2. The parental notice measure was only one indication of the legislature's intent to move legislation with haste.

Florida minors cannot get body piercing, be married or be employed on a movie set without parental consent, but a girl can terminate a pregnancy without her parent's approval - or even their knowledge - in the Sunshine State.