The Net #4
Kansas Legislative Network News

February 22, 2008
Tom Thompson
Legislative Coordinator
Sierra Club Kansas Chapter
5001 Rock Creek Lane, Mission, KS 66205
Phone: 913-236-9161; cell: 913-687-2405;
email: tomnthompson@sbcglobal.net

77 State Reps Vote for Global Warming

Coal smoke clouded the judgment of 77 State Representatives last Monday when they voted to pass House Substitute for SB 327. HB 327 is similar to the Senate Substitute for 2066 passed by the Senate last week. These bills were designed to allow the Holcomb coal fired power plant to be built.

Luckily, 45 State Reps. voted against 327. It is expected that Governor Sebelius will veto 327. These 45 votes are enough to defeat an attempt to over ride a veto. 84 votes are needed in the House to do so. The Senate appears to be veto proof.

Early next week, 327 or 2066 will most likely be passed out of a conference committee. This conference committee report will then be voted on in both the House and Senate where it will finally be passed and sent to the Governor. The Governor will then have 10 calendar days to veto it.

It is important that we remain vigilant, however. Those wanting Holcomb to be built are working to convince those voting against 327 to either vote for a conference committee report or vote to overturn a veto.

The Topeka Capital Journal today ran an article about Rep. Sydney Carlin, D from Manhattan. She was a sponsor of a bill to bring an airport project to Manhattan. When thanking someone for allowing the bill involved to be considered, it was suggested that it would have a better chance if she changed her vote and supported the Holcomb plant. Arm-twisting and persuasion is taking place and will until the session is over. Everyone needs to keep letting their legislators know where they stand. Some continue to indicate they have not heard from many opposing Holcomb.

Those that need our support because they CORRECTLY voted NO on 327 are:

Those needing more educating because they INCORRECTLY voted YES for 327 and global warming are:

There have been a number of legislators who have come down with a variety of illnesses. Three legislators did not vote. They are Flora, Kelley and Trimmer.

When emailing, mailing or phoning legislators, give your name, address and phone number. This will add credibility to your communication especially if you are a constituent.

Other bills

This past week there were several other bills. HB 2806 would make electric rates uniform throughout Kansas. HB 2765 would make utilities use clean coal practices. One of these was to capture CO2 which one utility in testimony against the bill indicated that capturing carbon was not feasible. These bills probably won't make it out of the Utilities Committee.

SB 580 and 586 were heard in the Senate Utilities Committee. The Sierra Club provided testimony for 580 and against 586. 580 provides for $2 million from the State General Fund to be used to fund low to moderate homeowners to make homes more energy efficient. 586 provided incentives for building a new nuclear power plant in Kansas. Many legislators support nuclear energy as a way to decrease the states CO2 production.

HB 2747 was in the House Election and Local Government Committee and deals with Overland Park annexation of a large portion of Southern Johnson County. It was assigned to a sub-committee and is being rewritten.

Next Week

On Monday at 9:15 am, in the House Utilities Committee HB 2881 will be heard. This is another net metering bill that involves both wind and solar and seems to be an improvement over past net metering bills. It was introduced by Rep.Tom Holland.

On Tuesday at 8:30 am, in the Senate Agriculture Committee SB 595 will be heard. 595 will have opposition by the Sierra Club and a number of other groups concerned about a wholesome food supply and an individuals right to know. This bill would ban labeling that says dairy products are free of rBGH (rBST) a genetically engineered hormone that induces cows to produce more milk. It could also limit the use of terms like pesticide free, cage-free, free-range and locally produced that many small Kansas farmers use to sell their products.

Next week is called turn around week. That means that bills passed in the House are turned over to the Senate and bills that have been passed in the Senate are turned over to the House. This does not include "blessed" or exempt bills that have gone through the Appropriations/Ways and Means, Taxation or Fed and State Committees. Committees must be done by the end of Tuesday so there is time for their bills to be considered by the House or Senate by Friday. This week is often very rushed and the House and Senate may be in session all day Wednesday through Friday.

Full text of bills and a lot of other good information about what is going at in the legislature can be had at the Kansas Legislative website. You can even listen in on legislative proceedings:

http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-legisportal/index.do

Tom Thompson
Legislative Chair
Sierra Club Kansas Chapter