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Feeding tube could be reconnected today
WASHINGTON - Lawyers entered a Florida courthouse with a lawsuit in hand as nurses stood ready at Terri Schiavo's bedside early today after Congress approved and President Bush swiftly signed a bill that could prolong her life....

...But those Democrats opposed to the bill said it was the Republicans who were exploiting the issue for their political benefit.

The Washington Post published a memo it said had been circulated to GOP senators. ''This is an important moral issue and the pro-life base will be excited that the Senate is debating this important,'' the memo reportedly said.

It appeared to target Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida's top Democrat, saying, ``This is a great political issue because Senator Nelson of Florida has already refused to become a cosponsor and this is a tough issue for Democrats.''

Democrats said the memo revealed their opponents' real motivation.

''We're making a medical decision about which we know nothing,'' said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. ``We should not be making decisions because we're trying to please someone politically.''

Congressional Republicans sought to distance themselves from the memo and denied any political motivation....