The Net #8
Kansas Legislative Network News
March 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

If a Tree Fell in the Forest and There Was Nobody There to Hear…..

A tree did fall in the forest today in the form of a veto by Governor Kathleen Sebelius of House Substitute for SB 327. However, very few legislators were around because they had gone home for Easter weekend, most of them leaving Thursday. There is no doubt that this tree did make a noise and it was heard.

We now have a new message to take to our legislators and the Governor. We need to thank the Governor and encourage legislators to support the veto by voting not to over ride. The sound of the falling tree must reverberate throughout the state with the message “No more Holcomb.”

What will happen next is uncertain. Your communications with the legislature will help to keep up the momentum. The other side won't stop trying. In fact, there is another bill being drafted designed to get more votes but still let Holcomb be built. Whether it is presented or not will have a lot to do with you. There are only two more weeks left in the regular session (last day is scheduled for April 5), then there is the veto session starting the last day in April. A lot can happen in that short time.

Other bills coming and going

Bills were still being considered this past week. However, Wednesday March 26, will be the last day committees can meet. After that there will be only conference committees to chase down. These can meet anywhere or anytime. Many bills will be bundled together.

Last Monday I testified against SB 586 that gave automatic CWIP (Construction Work in Progress) privileges to nuclear plants that are being built. This includes certain money spent in the planning stage. An automatic CWIP was given to coal plant construction last year allowing ratepayers to pay for them while they were being built. In the past, ratepayers couldn't be charged until after the plant started generating. This put the risk on the stockholders. Now it is also on the ratepayers. This bill passed out of the Senate and will most likely be passed by the House. There are a lot of lovers of nuclear power in the legislature.

I also submitted written testimony supporting HCR 5033 which is a resolution encouraging Congress to remove themselves from NAFTA, the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America and anything else that might form a North American Union. This was all being done to stop what some call the NAFTA Super Highway and also referred to as NASCO, which includes I-35. My testimony supported them primarily because of the issue of NAFTA. Rep. Judy Morrison, R-Merriam had this written.

Last week I talked about HB 2949 (see KLN#7). This was converted into HCR 5038 because some who testified thought that putting it into statute made it too much of a mandate. Rep. Gene Rardin and Vaughn Flora were able to get amendments to the resolution to give it more flexibility for renewables and future technology. The rigid goals for nuclear and coal base load were removed. This should pass the House and Chairman Myers said the Senate has agreed to work it. I testified against it but with the changes will more than likely be for it.

On Thursday in the Senate Natural Resources Committee HB 2625 was heard. This bill dealt with IGUCAs which are Intensive Underground Control Areas that are used in very dry areas of the state to regulate water use especially irrigation. The bill had to do with review procedures. I did not testify on this bill but some may want to look it up at the legislative web site.

I was planning to testify on behalf of SB 123 on Thursday in the House Agriculture Committee. However, this hearing was cancelled and I doubt will get another time to be heard. There was also to be a hearing on HB 2892 that had to do with underground crude oil storage but this hearing was cancelled too.

This past week was overshadowed by the anticipated veto of 327. Easter weekend also tended to slow the pace. However, another event took many legislators and the Governor out of town on Thursday. The Senate did not go into session Thursday either. Last Sunday, the father of Senate President Steve Morris died. The Funeral was Thursday. Our condolences go to Sen. Morris.

Keep the sound from the tree reverberating.

Tom Thompson
Legislative Chair
Sierra Club Kansas Chapter