Legislature smoked by coal

By: Bob Sigman, Opinion Page Editor

Ugly. That is the word that comes to mind in describing the 2008 Kansas Legislature. From the outset in January to the coming of spring, legislators were mired in controversy, among themselves and with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, over two proposed 700-megawatt coal-fired electric plants in southwest Kansas. The contentious debate, in the corridors and on the floors of both chambers, dominated the proceedings and choked out other deserving issues.

And, through no fault of its own, Johnson County was sucked into this vortex of desperation and hard feelings. Left in jeopardy were provisions for state-backed bonds for the multimilllion-dollar intermodal transportation center near Gardner.

After failing to overcome Sebelius’ vetoes of the coal-plant legislation, supporters inserted the $3.6 billion Sunflower Electric Power Corp.’s projects in an economic development measure that included the Gardner venture.

It awaits the governor’s action, which is expected to be a veto.

This complicates the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway’s plans here, which Johnson Countians consider to be as important to them as the electric plants are to outstate Kansas. The Gardner initiative, now in the planning, is expected to create an estimated 12,180 jobs in Johnson County alone.

Tying the coal plants to the economic package was patently unfair, even perhaps unconstitutional. Sebelius vetoed two versions of the electric power legislation and there was little reason to assume she would accept the latest proposal.

The governor opposed the plants throughout the session and backed the decision of her appointee who denied a permit for them last year.

Nonetheless, coal plant sponsors were willing to sacrifice the eastern Kansas transportation project in a last-ditch move – a hopeless one at that – for theirs.

That has repercussions far beyond Johnson County. The intermodal connection will be a huge economic benefit to Kansas and the region. It will be a massive transcontinental facility that will involve the distribution of goods to the Midwest from West Coast ports that serve overseas exporters.

You would think that incumbents running for re-election this year would have produced more, if only to impress voters. There were a few bright spots,  but they were outnumbered by the failures.

Large businesses caught a tax break. In a border warfare move, legislators approved a bill to eliminate income tax deductions for nonresidents who are employed in Kansas if their state does not allow the deductions. That resulted from a Missouri law that increased income taxes on Kansans who work in Missouri. Schools were funded, including provisions for an increase in the base state payment in the 2009-10 school year.

Health care received some help, but went largely underfunded. Last year, the Legislature directed the Kansas Health Policy Authority, which it created to coordinate medical access and benefits, to conduct a state study and recommend an agenda to improve health care.

In the fall, the KHPA proposed 21 reforms. By the time the 2008 Legislature had acted, only one was funded, according to Marcia Nielsen, KHPA executive director. It was $550,000 for a coordinated school health program.

Legislators rejected a KHPA recommendation to enact a smoke-free law for public places. That would not have eaten into the budget at all. Indeed, it would have held down medical costs of individuals who suffer diseases by inhaling secondhand smoke.

The KHPA even had a funding plan for its 21-point reform proposal for a minimum of five years. It would have been financed by an increase in the tobacco tax. That, too, was turned down.

“It was a very thoughtful match-up of cause and effect,” Nielsen pointed out in commenting on the proposed boost, “increasing tobacco user fees decreases rates of smoking and improves health outcomes …”

The tobacco tax would have provided a continued source of revenue for health reform, she added.

Once again, funding of all-day kindergarten, considered essential in an ever-demanding global economy, failed, as did more stringent requirements for teenage drivers. Immigration legislation, a priority at the beginning of the session, was another casualty of the misguided session.

The list of failures is long, achievements relatively few, for 2008.

 

Contact Bob Sigman at 385-6034 or e-mail bsigman@sunpublications.com.