Senate staying home today after Saturday’s coal battle
The Legislature today is somewhat in limbo from Saturday’s dust-up between the House and Senate when Senate leaders said they intend to stay home until the House negotiates in good faith on the final budget bill.Of course, everything is still linked to the fight over the proposed coal-fired project in southwest Kansas. Supporters of the two 700-megawatt plants are trying to get one more bill passed to authorize the project. That would probably prompt another veto from Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, which would set up another veto override attempt on May 29, the official end of the legislative session.Here are some other state news stories from across Kansas:
Lobbyist spending on coal project increases: (Harris News Service) The battle to get lawmakers and the public to accept two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas continues to be among the most expensive ever in the Kansas Legislature. So far, groups favoring and opposing the plants have spent more than $830,000 on lobbying from late last year through March. That includes more than $322,000 since the first of the year.
http://www.harrisnewsservice.com/news/lobbying%20update-1.html
Coal debate hangs over session: (Topeka Capital-Journal) A winner-take-all attitude among participants in debate over construction in western Kansas of a coal-fired electric plant could mean the dominant issue of this session, as well as secondary issues, slip through the hands of these elected deal makers.
http://www.cjonline.com/stories/050508/sta_275522294.shtml
Cancer without coverage: (Lawrence Journal-World) When Tracie Revis started her fight against cancer more than two years ago, she didn’t expect to take on a health care system ill-equipped to handle an uninsured 20-something. After rounds of chemotherapy, radiation treatment and a stem cell transplant, it’s still one of the few battles Revis has yet to win.
Kline continued on Tiller case: (AP) Phill Kline didn’t abandon attempts to prosecute Wichita abortion provider Dr. George Tiller after leaving the attorney general’s office, recently unsealed court records show.