Senate committee passes embryonic stem cell funding

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TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—As the Florida Legislature enters the mid-point of its two-month annual session, pro-family leaders are closely watching developments in both houses with cause both for concern and hope.

The Senate Health Policy Committee approved on March 27 SB 750, which provides state funding for destructive embryonic stem cell research. The bill is sponsored by Senate minority leader Sen. Steven Geller, D-Cooper City. In a matter of a few minutes at the very end of its scheduled meeting, the committee also approved an alternative stem cell funding bill, SB 2496, sponsored by Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, only to find out after the fact that the committee vote came after the meeting time had expired, resulting in the measure not actually passing out of committee. Haridoplos's bill is the governor's legislation permitting stem cell research only among ethical sources, which would not include embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cell research funding was thought by pro-family leaders to not have much chance of success after Governor Charlie Crist announced Jan. 31 that he would support only stem cell research funding from non-controversial sources, like adult stem cells and umbilical cords. Crist's announcement was a reversal of his stance while campaigning for governor last year when he indicated he would support embryonic stem cell research.

Florida Baptist Convention legislative consultant Bill Bunkley told the Witness pro-family groups may have to rely upon the Florida House of Representatives to stop embryonic stem cell research from becoming reality.

"Democratic Leader Steve Geller is pushing hard to position the bill in his chamber to allow experimentation on human embryos," Bunkley said. "So far, Republicans have failed to oppose his bold advances."

Bunkley was critical of the Health Policy Committee's treatment of the competing legislation favored by pro-family groups that received less than four minutes of consideration, while Geller's bill was debated for 22 minutes.

"Fairness has not ruled the day on the airing and debate on the issue, but I expect both bills will end up for consideration on the Senate floor," Bunkley said.

In the Florida House, the Health Council approved on March 27 HB 1497, tightening definitions and procedures for Florida parental notification of abortion for minors statute. Sponsored by Rep. Anthony Traviesa, R-Tampa, the bill also includes a 24-hour waiting period requirement before any woman could have an abortion in Florida.

Testifying before the House panel was William Cline, a medical doctor from Melbourne Beach, who told of his daughter's use of the current law's judicial bypass to get permission from a judge to have an abortion without notifying her parents.

"The essential parenting edict to form a child and guide them through decisions, to give them the direction to become mature, moral, ethical adults has effectively been subrogated from us. When I sat on her bed and cried with her throughout that horrible night, I relived with her the terror of her experience," Cline testified.

Also testifying was Patricia McClure, a member of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, who told the committee she lives "in the danger zone" with two teen-age daughters.

"My kid can't get a root canal without my authorization but she can go through a medical procedure that has the risk of going terribly wrong. So, please, from this mom, before any daughter goes through this, just let the parents know," McClure told the panel.

Bunkley told the Witness that the bill is an important improvement on the parental notification law.

"Stricter verification records by the abortion doctors and the appointment of a guardian ad litem to protect the young girl from her own immaturity as well as an undue influence from outside forces is an excellent adjustment to the process," he said. "Too many judicial bypasses are routinely being approved by irresponsible judges in certain circuits."

Although an important measure worthy of support, Bunkley said that he doesn't believe the bill's requirement of a 24-hour waiting period will make it through the more liberal Florida Senate.

Bunkley also expressed concern about the progress of SB 1192, allowing for expanded operations of gambling card rooms. Sponsored by Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, the card rooms would be permitted to operate independently any day from noon to midnight and would permit larger wagers.

"On many fronts the new moderate environment in Tallahassee is flexing its influence in the area of expanding the opportunities for gambling in Florida," Bunkley told the Witness, citing SB 1192 as an example.

Meanwhile, even as the governor and legislators are making plans to spend the tax revenues generated by slot machines in Broward County, the Florida Supreme Court announced March 27 that it would hear arguments in a case challenging the validity of the petition signatures that put the slots referendum on the ballot in 2004.

Floridians Against Expanded Gambling brought suit before the general election in 2004, claiming that slots referendum supporters fraudulently obtained signatures and that the ballot initiative should be invalidated because of the fraud. The First District Court of Appeals overturned the trial judge's ruling that the question had been "cured" by the electorate's approval of the slots referendum.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case later this spring.