Warning: Constant ABSPATH already defined in /home/flanews/public_html/wp-config.php on line 34
Capitol News Service » Blog Archive » Florida Lawmakers Again Debating When Life Begins

Welcome to

Capitol News Service

Florida's Best Political Coverage on Television

 


 


 


Recent Posts

RSS Quote of the Day

  • Charles Baudelaire
    "Everything that is beautiful and noble is the product of reason and calculation."
  • Wilson Mizner
    "The best way to keep your friends is not to give them away."
  • Benjamin Disraeli
    "Silence is the mother of truth."
  • H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
    "Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness."

Florida Lawmakers Again Debating When Life Begins

March 14th, 2019 by Mike Vasilinda

The question of when human life begins is a debate returning to the State Capitol.

Legislation prohibiting abortions after a fetal heart beat could be detected, which is usually around six weeks, could be a test case for newly appointed justices on the Florida Supreme Court.

In a 1989 Florida’s Supreme Court upheld a teenager’s right to her own body, saying a fetus was a specialized set of cells.

It remains law today, but now state lawmakers are trying to test the court and its three newly appointed members with a bill prohibiting abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected.

“When there’s a heartbeat, there is life. It’s always been the symbol of the presence of life,” said Senate sponsor Dennis Baxley.

Asked if six weeks was enough time for a woman to act if she wanted an abortion, the sponsor suggested she might have to face the consequences.

“There was an intentional act. A decision made,” said Baxley.

Pro Choice activists gathered quickly to protest a press conference held by bill sponsors Thursday.

“At that point of a woman’s pregnancy she might not even know that she is pregnant yet,” said Representative Anna Eskamani.

House Sponsor Mike Hill believes, if passed, the legislation will be challenged before the Supreme Court of Florida.

“I believe that they’ll make a decision at that time that I hope will celebrate life,” said Hill.

Despite the new conservative leaning on the court, pro choice activists say that the legislation being proposed is unconstitutional, and they think the court will agree.

“Absolutely there is concern, but at the end of the day Florida’s state constitution continues to have a strong right to privacy that I know Floridians across this state support,” said Eskamani.

So far the fetal heartbeat has not received a hearing, but contentious legislation is often saved for late in the session, which ends in May.

A second bill raising concerns for pro choice activists would require parents to be provide consent for a minors abortion.

Current law only requires parents be notified.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

Comments are closed.

copyright © 2016 by Capitol News Service | Powered by Wordpress | Hosted by LyonsHost.com