Ultrasound-Abortion Vote Near

The vote for the ultrasound bill in the Florida Senate will be close. The Senate has 26 Republicans and 14 Democrats. Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller says 13 Democrats and 6 Republicans will vote for the bill. Three Republicans are on the fence. Democrat Gary "Droopy Pants" Siplin will vote for the ultrasound bill. 20 nay votes are needed to kill the bill. Geller has 19.

The bill requires any woman getting an abortion to receive an ultrasound. She may be allowed to look at the results. The earlier version SB 2400 viewing ultrasounds mandatory.

An act relating to abortion; amending s. 390.0111, F.S.; requiring that an ultrasound be performed on any woman obtaining an abortion; specifying who must perform an ultrasound; requiring that the ultrasound be reviewed with the patient prior to the woman giving informed consent; specifying who must review the ultrasound with the patient; requiring that the woman certify in writing that she declined to review the ultrasound and did so of her own free will and without undue influence; providing an exemption from the requirement to view the ultrasound for women who are the victims of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking or for women who have a serious medical condition necessitating the abortion

Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, rewrote the bill's language to make viewing ultrasounds optional for women. That doesn't make this bill any better. Ultrasounds aren't medically needed for abortions. Republicans are playing to a Christian conservative base that wants to make women feel bad about the choices they make with their bodies.

Democrats will have one more reason to run Gary Siplin out of the party, if this bill passes.

The Evolution of Ronda Storms

The conservative meme is that liberals always lie. The Right might want to ask themselves why they have to frame a debate in less than candid terms. Conpassionate conservatism is cutting SCHIP. Donald Rumsfeld said that Iraq was "immediate threat" to America's security. We now know that wasn't the case.

Which brings us to Ronda Storms. She has introduced the SB 2692. The bill is known by the misnomer Evolution Academic Freedom Act. The Orwellian term was created by David Howowitz and the Center for Science and Culture. Both parties have long attempted to push the scientifically unfounded theory of intelligent design in classrooms. Storms was asked several times by Senate Democratics if her bill would allow the teaching of intelligent design. Storms ducked the question and reread her bill.

"You've given us criteria," Geller, of Hallandale Beach, told Storms. "I don't want to know the criteria."

Steve Geller asked Storms a straight question. Storms didn't have the honesty to say she believed that evolution is nonsense. She framed her bill as promoting freedom to teach evolution. Where was Storms when Jeb Bush would not allow teachers to mention evolution?

Florida (Non)Primary Update

Tamara Lytle and John Kennedy of The Orlando Sentinel have written an informative summary of how the DNC and RNC are dealing with Florida moving up the primary. The current status is that Democratics and Republicans in the Florida legislature voted "virtually unanimously" for the Jan. 29th primary date. Florida Republicans will lose half their delegates. Democrats lose all. Governor Charlie Crist has reiterated he will not move the primary back.

Republican Party of Florida Charman Jim Greer maybe able to deliver all of Florida's delegates to the Republican National Convention.

State party Chairman Jim Greer said he has found a loophole. The Jan. 29 vote is binding, but the actual delegates won't be named until later. And if the RNC won't accept that, he said, the eventual nominee can use his influence to make sure all of Florida's delegates are seated.

The DNC is leaving the FDP lousy options if they don't move back their primary. What is likely to happen is either a delegate-selection convention or mail-in ballots. The other hope is the eventual nominee asks Dean to bury the hatchet with the FDP. With the way things have been going that is not a guarantee.

Charlie Crist hinted that he might lobby Democratic candidates to campaign in Florida. I believe when I see it.

Update: Tally likes the delegate-selection idea.

Update: Crist and Senate minority leader Steve Geller agree that there will be no shut down of the Senate or House. Jon Ausman, of the DNC, sent out an email urging Democrats to use parliamentary procedures to grind the Florida legislature to a halt. I'm glad they agree on that. The daily business of state government shouldn't be affected because of the primary mess. There are too many problems the legislature need to address. Ausman's idea doesn't help matters.