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KS: Legislature Tries Again, Ends Session With Another Coal Bill
Last Updated on Thursday, 8 May 2008 12:05 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 8 May 2008 11:29
We covered this for you yesterday. And have been all over this story here (a lesson in economics), here (a sweet chubby Al reference), here (can you say $10 billion?) and here (can you say $4 billion?). If you really like coal, you can check out our entire coverage here. From LJWorld.com:
The Kansas Legislature on Wednesday sent another coal-fired power plants bill to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius before ending the wrap-up session.
Sebelius has vetoed two bills that would have authorized the two 700-megawatt plants in southwest Kansas.
But on this measure — House Bill 2412 — supporters of the project bundled it with other economic development initiatives that have gained widespread support.
House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, said he believes Sebelius will allow the measure to become law without her signature.
Asked if he would attempt to override a Sebelius veto on the session’s ceremonial last day May 29, Neufeld said he wouldn’t speculate.
Posted under State Legislature News | No Comments
KS: Dems Lash Out Against Latest Coal Bill
Last Updated on Tuesday, 6 May 2008 12:59 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 6 May 2008 11:42
Looks like Governor Kathleen Sebelius and her eco-allies are going to be on he losing end of this one. Who knew, jobs and developing the economy would prevail over tired scare tactics. You can catch up on our coverage on this, issue spanning several months, right here. Then you can catch up on how out of touch Kansas Democrat L.G. Mark Parkinson is on the big picture right here – nobody’s hurting in Kansas. Talk about an ivory tower liberal. Been windsurfing lately? From the Salina Journal:
TOPEKA — Democrats angered by the merger of a coal-fired power plant bill into a “mega” bill for economic development say House Speaker Melvin Neufeld is holding eastern Kansas economic projects hostage.
“It’s very transparent when he says he doesn’t trade votes that he does trade votes,” said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka.
But Senate GOP leaders, who plan to take up the bill today, defended Neufeld, saying it’s a legitimate action.
“We just think it’s a bill that’s fair to the entire state,” said Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, whose district would be home to the new plants.
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KS: Supporters Hopeful In House Vote On Coal
Last Updated on Thursday, 3 April 2008 01:30 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 3 April 2008 12:57
We’ve been tracking this story since last October – again this past March and it looks like the legislature is going to exercise the will of the people on this. Now if only the Democrat governor will heed the voices that are being heard. Sadly, somewhere, this chubby man is weeping uncontrollably. Fat guy in a little coat….
Legislators sensed Thursday that supporters of two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas had enough support to enact a law making sure they get built.The House gave first-round approval to a bill allowing Sunflower Electric Power Corp. to build the two plants outside Holcomb, in Finney County.The measure also strips power from the secretary of health and environment, who has blocked the $3.6 billion project since October over its potential carbon dioxide emissions.
The vote – seen as a key test – was 79-39. Supporters didn’t have the 84 of 125 votes necessary for the two-thirds majority they were seeking. But opponents also didn’t muster the 42 votes they would need to prevent such a margin.
Posted under State Legislature News | 1 Comment
KS: Dem Governor’s Rejection of Coal Lost Refinery Project
Last Updated on Thursday, 20 March 2008 11:12 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 20 March 2008 10:29
Just by our count (remember Sunflower?) – that’s AT LEAST $14 billion in construction – that’s jobs, homes, and revenue for the state of Kansas – these brilliant Democrat state and local officials have punted away to other states. What great future leaders Kansas Democrats are churning out.
A group of lawmakers, including House Speaker Melvin Neufeld and state Rep. Tom Sloan of Lawrence, on Wednesday blamed Gov. Kathleen Sebelius administration’s rejection of two coal-fired power plants for the loss of a proposed oil refinery project in northeast Kansas.The legislators said Hyperion Resources Inc. chose South Dakota over Kansas for construction of a $10 billion oil refinery and electrical power plant because of “regulatory uncertainty” in Kansas.
“The damage is happening to the state of Kansas,” said Neufeld, R-Ingalls.
Sebelius’ spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran denied the legislators’ assertion.
Posted under Dems Behaving Badly, State Legislature News | 2 Comments
KS: Legislature Discusses Overriding Coal Bill Veto
Last Updated on Monday, 10 March 2008 12:44 Written by rslcpol Monday, 10 March 2008 12:43
Separately, Rep. Pat George and Sen. Tim Huelskamp also said they thought lawmakers would override the governor’s veto.
The state’s denial of an air-quality permit for two coal-fired plants in Holcomb, and the Legislature’s response to that decision, dominated the discussion during a legislative coffee at the High Plains Journal. George, Neufeld and Huelskamp each support the project.
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KS: New AG Dismisses Coal Plant Complaint
Last Updated on Thursday, 14 February 2008 03:32 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 14 February 2008 10:41
Can’t make the anti-coal Governor of Kansas happy that General Six ruled this way on this matter.
Topeka — Attorney General Stephen Six’s office has ruled it was legal for lawmakers to meet privately — with input from an electric company — to write legislation allowing that company to build two coal-burning plants.The Lawrence Journal-World filed a complaint under the Kansas Open Meetings Act after key lawmakers last month released House Bill 2711 and Senate Bill 515. Those bills would have essentially required construction of the two 700-megawatt plants.
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KS: Senate President Calls Anti-Coal Ads Misleading
Last Updated on Monday, 29 October 2007 10:07 Written by rslcpol Monday, 29 October 2007 10:07
The new power plants would be built in Senate President Steve Morris’ district. House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, represents a neighboring district. They and dozens of other legislators have signed on to try to reverse KDHE’s decision, claiming the agency overstepped its authority and that stopping the power plant would kill billions of dollars of economic development for western Kansas.
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KS: COALition Wants Wind Energy
Last Updated on Thursday, 11 October 2007 09:31 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 11 October 2007 09:31
Now Hiring: Windmill Blade Duster
“It’s often presented to us as: It’s either the coal plant or no economy out there at all,” he said.
Nagengast said investing in wind farms offered rural communities a chance to add jobs tied to sustainable energy resources.
Posted under Attorney General News, State Legislature News | No Comments
KS: Legislature Dims the Lights
Last Updated on Wednesday, 4 June 2008 11:41 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 4 June 2008 11:41
From Salina.com:
Sen. Pete Brungardt pointed out some notable things from the 2008 Kansas Legislature when he spoke to Salina’s noon Rotary Club on Monday.
Some of his comments were significant in a good way, but one of his topics was not. Tim Unruh’s report on the meeting was published in Tuesday’s Journal.
On the good side, Brungardt showed common sense when he discussed Hays-based Sunflower Electric’s attempts to add two 700-megawatt coal-fired generators to its plant south of Holcomb. He showed support for coal-generated electricity, but he did not support his Republican Party leadership when Speaker of the House Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, bundled two key economic development packages with the coal plant legislation. That move was a power play meant to force Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to sign the bill.
Brungardt and other Republican lawmakers stood their ground, refusing to be herded like sheep. Good for them.
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KS: GOP House Speaker Says Dem LG ‘Doesn’t Understand Economics’
Last Updated on Thursday, 24 April 2008 02:48 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 24 April 2008 02:34
Some free advice for Governor Sebelius. Don’t L.G. Parkinson talk to the press again. The laaaast thing you need is a ticket mate who comes across as out of touch with what some Kansans feel. What’s he going to say next? This guy could be trove of quotes of the day – scratch that – they Governor Sebelius should let him expound on the issues of the day whenever he wants.
House Speaker Melvin Neufeld says recent comments from Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson show Parkinson doesn’t understand economics.It’s the latest episode in the ongoing dispute over two proposed coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas.Neufeld, an Ingalls Republican, views the plants as economic development.
Parkinson, the governor’s top energy adviser, said Tuesday that western Kansas is seeing a lot of economic activity. He said it’s wrong to assume that the region needs to be pulled out of a depression.
Posted under Lieutenant Governor News, State Legislature News | 1 Comment