A matter of life and death

Steve Rose, Publisher

Steve Rose, Publisher

Politics can be a powerful force, even when life and death is on the line.

The proposed coal-fired electrical plants in western Kansas are, unfortunately, a case in point. It appears that sensible people in our legislative delegation are buckling to extreme political pressures.

We have seen politics over many years trump health concerns. Legislation to ban smoking in restaurants and bars was blunted, even though it is proved that secondhand smoke can cause cancer and other major diseases. But until only recently, when the public opinion tide turned, politicians refused to do what was in the best interests of their constituents. Instead, they voted their own best interests, fearful that smoking bans would ignite a backlash from smokers, as well as restaurant and bar owners.

We see the same kind of politics playing out again, on a grander scale. There is little reasonable doubt that the 11 million tons of carbon dioxide that would be spewed from two new coal-fired plants in Holcomb, Kan., would be damaging to the health of all Kansans, and the planet, as well.

Yet, the Legislature keeps trying to approve the plants under false arguments that all that carbon dioxide is harmless. Their real argument, of course, is that this is all about economic development for western Kansas, which badly needs the $3.5 billion stimulus to its economy.

The governor twice has vetoed attempts to approve the plants. But the third effort in the upcoming veto session may overturn her next veto, with a two-thirds vote in both the state Senate and House. And it may be the Johnson County delegation that puts them over the top.

Despite polls showing unmistakably that the plants meet strong disapproval throughout most of Kansas, but particularly in Johnson County, our delegation is caving in to the threats of two powerful legislators.

As fate would have it, both Senate President Stephen Morris and Speaker of the House Melvin Neufeld represent Holcomb, Kan.

Morris, who is an extremely popular leader, has rounded up every state Senate vote from Johnson County, except Sen. David Wysong. Even bright, sensible senators like John Vratil and Barbara Allen have put their convictions on hold, in order to please their leader.

Until now, however, our delegation in the House has remained split. The moderates have supported the governor.

But there are signs that the speaker is playing such hardball, he has put the fear of God in our legislators.

The House leader reportedly has threatened to punish Johnson County, if they don’t vote his way, by reducing our school funding. He has also threatened to hold up state backing of bonds for our gigantic intermodal hub in Gardner. The list of threats goes on. As one of our Chamber of Commerce leaders put it privately the other day, the punishment we are facing is frightening if we don’t vote with Neufeld.

So, we now face the stark realities. Will we trade our integrity and our health, as well as the future of the planet, for funding we badly want?

The litmus test for every legislator is clear. What will they tell their children and grandchildren, when they have to explain their vote whether to support deadly pollution?

Hopefully, they will say it was a tough call, but in the end, they voted their conscience.