Moran criticizes Sunflower decision

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Posted by George Diepenbrock November 14, 2007 at 10:03 a.m.

Here are today's headlines from the Kansas congressional delegation:Rep. Jerry Moran (R) ![][1][(Salina Journal) Moran says Bremby created 'new standard':][2] Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., said he played no role in the state's denial of Sunflower Electric's plan to expand a coal-fired electricity generating plant in southwest Kansas, but he is hearing plenty about it while traveling the state. "From east to west, people paid attention. The decision has been a topic of conversation," Moran said after speaking Tuesday morning at Kansas Wesleyan University. His appearance was part of a fall listening tour that will take him to 69 counties in the 1st District that he represents. Hays-based Sunflower was denied an air quality permit last month by Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Roderick Bremby. The decision stalled a $3.6 billion plan to build two coal-fired, 700-megawatt generators at the Sunflower plant south of Holcomb. ... Moran said Sunflower is working to reduce the release of greenhouse gases from its plant. He mentioned research to use carbon monoxide to grow algae that will in turn be used to produce biofuels. "Sunflower meets every standard required and is trying to be responsible," he said. "(Bremby) created a new standard," Moran said. Sen. Sam Brownback (R) ![][3][(Washington Post) Republicans seek retraction of report on wars' 'hidden costs':][4] Senior Republicans on Congress's Joint Economic Committee called Tuesday for the withdrawal of a report by the committee's Democratic staff that argues that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost more than $1.5 trillion. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, and Rep. James Saxton, R-N.J., attacked the report on "hidden costs" of the wars, calling its methodology flawed and asserting factual errors. The report, issued Tuesday, said the war has cost nearly double the $804 billion in appropriations and requests for war funding thus far. In a joint statement, the committee's Republicans called the report "another thinly veiled exercise in political hyperbole masquerading as academic research." "All wars involve costs, and the war on terror is no exception," Brownback and Saxton said. "The Democrats' report would have benefited from more analysis and quality control, and less political content. We call on Senator Schumer and the Democratic leadership in the House and the Senate to withdraw this defective report." Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., chairs the committee. [1]: http://ljworld.com/specials/kudole/bios/art/moran.jpg [2]: http://www.saljournal.com/rdnews/story/jerry_Moran_speaks_111307 [3]: http://ljworld.com/specials/election04/primary/brownback.jpg [4]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/13/AR2007111301948.html?hpid=moreheadlines/