Rachel Smith is incorrect in thanking Republican lawmakers for their effort to put Terri Schiavo ("Thank Republicans for saving Schiavo," March 22).

Her calling the effort "commendable, especially in the dirty field of politics."

This move, though, is nothing more than a political move.

A memo, which the AP reports was distributed by Senate leadership to right-wing members, called Schiavo "a great political issue" and urged senators to talk about her because "the pro-life base will be excited."

President Bush has joined in the fray as well, even though while he was governor of Texas in 1999, he signed into a law a bill that allows hospitals to discontinue life-sustaining care, even if patient family members disagree.

Just days ago the law permitted Texas Children's Hospital to remove the breathing tube from a 6-month-old boy named Sun Hudson, against his family's wishes. What is one of the main reasons for this action to be taken?

The lack of ability for the family to pay the bills necessary to keep their loved-one on life support. Terri Schiavo has been kept alive based on funds from two sources. The first is Medicaid, which Rep. Tom Delay (who supports keeping Mrs. Schiavo on life support) has tried to cut funding to by $15 billion in a budget resolution.

The other source came from a medical malpractice suit that awarded the Schiavos $1 million. Senator Bill Frist is leading the charge to limit how much money people can receive in cases of serious injury like Mrs. Schiavo.

Sen. Bill Frist is another supposed supporter of keeping Mrs. Schiavo on life support.

Apparently, Republicans support a culture of life, but only when it is politically gainful to do so.