Anti-abortion group keeps robocalls alive

Attorney General Steve Six saw one of his legislative initiatives killed when the Senate voted 13-27 on a bill that would have essentially banned unwanted robocalls.

The legislation would have required that the caller get a person’s consent to hear a recorded message before the message could be played.

The anti-abortion group Kansans For Life opposed the bill, saying it specifically targeted its audiocalls, which the group said are much less expensive to make than a typical live call.

Wind potential grows

Kansas isn’t any windier, but its potential for wind energy has more than tripled, according to a new assessment.

The American Wind Energy Association says that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows that U.S. wind resources are much greater than previously estimated.

“The wind resource is there, vast and inexhaustible, waiting for us,” said Denise Bode, chief executive officer of the AWEA. “Meanwhile, the economy can’t wait, job creation can’t wait, and America can’t wait. We need Congress to act now and pass a comprehensive climate and energy bill that includes a strong national Renewable Electricity Standard,” Bode said.

Kansas’ generation potential is now estimated at 3.6 million gigawatt hours, up from 1 million gigawatt hours, the report said. The larger estimate is due to improved wind turbine technology.

Kansas ranks second in wind potential, behind only Texas.

K-State receives research designation

Kansas State University will receive $12 million as winning a “Center of Excellence” from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Zoonotic and Animal Disease Defense.

The designation means K-State will receive $2 million per year for six years for biological research, according to U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.

Quotes of the week

I don’t give a rat’s rear about it being popular.”

— Sen. Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg, responding to criticism that his texting while driving ban was proposed because it was popular

An amendment to require extra insurance coverage for erectile dysfunction “won’t stand up on its own.”

— State Rep. Virgil Peck, R-Tyro

What’s next

The House and Senate are adjourned until Tuesday afternoon.