This fight ain't over

politicking as I have seen on these coal-fired power plants and the proposed Gardner intermodal projects. When I think it couldn't get any worse, it does. Both of these projects will make Kansans sick and I know the intermodal will cause premature deaths and yet elected official after elected official is fighting for one or both of them and it is all based on money and greed. I ask myself how can these people, some of them I have known for several years, act in this manner with so little concern for the best interests of the people? What is our world coming to?????

No matter who you agree with, you have to be excited by the politicking going on right now at the state capitol. And the greatest thing here is that it isn't necessarily split down party lines (although there is clearly a difference of opinion between the parties). I love politics and the political process and only imagine the conversations that are occurring behind the scenes. I won't tell you if I'm for or against because for this post it doesn't matter. What is important is people are fighting for what they believe in.

CMS - Kansas Politics

Hey panderer... that much anxiety and you'll drive yourself to illness... Please... take a chill...

You are right - I do want to vomit quite often when dealing with people such as yourself and the "politicians" and not leaders that are prevalent in Topeka this time of every year. I also get quite angry when I see what these same people are doing to my health, my pocketbook and my quality of life. Not sure where you are residing - in a cave for all I know!!!!

can i sue neufeld for being a douchebag?

srsly. thx.

Since taking office, Sebelius has made every effort to undermine the Kansas Legislature's ability to make laws.

The veto is legal. She is the veto queen. Supreme court appointments, again legal. I suspect her only disappointment s that she could replace all of them. Yet these executive duties are constitutional, all within the boundaries of Separation of Powers.

BUT...

Making law through an appointment of the governor (Bremby), rather than through an elected legislative body, breaches the constitutional principle of Separation of Powers. That is ILLEGAL.

Bremby's job as an executive appointment is to execute the laws of Kansas, not MAKE the laws of Kansas.

The Legislature must sue Sebelius.

Checks and balances - you always have to have both or your government is a sham. Sebelius has every right to do what she is doing. If you want to point the finger, the legislators are just as bad or worse because they keep coming back to get what they want for their big money cronies - they keep fighting for their bone and doing it in every way they can. The power these plants will create won't even be for Kansans - we will only get the pollution. Colorado is one of the states who would buy that power and yet they are going after power sources that do not pollute. Bremby does the right thing and gets lauded for it but other entities want those dollars regardless and call him a traitor. The whole process brings out the worst!!!!

of energy. Lots of environmentalists in Colo. who don't want the coal-fired power plants - hope Kansans soon smarten up and get to that level of thinking.

Xcel's Shoshone power plant back in business
Denver Business Journal - by Cathy Proctor Denver Business Journal
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Xcel Q1 rises 28% on electric, natural gas sales [Mpls./St. Paul]
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Xcel Energy Inc.'s 98-year-old Shoshone power plant on the Colorado River, which uses water to generate electricity, has returned to operations nearly a year after a pipe burst and flooded the plant.

The power plant's repair and continued operations also means that the balance of water rights between the Front Range and Western Slope will continue as it has for years.

Xcel (NYSE: XEL) is based in Minneapolis. Colorado's largest power and natural gas utility, the company serves about 70 percent of the state's population.

Xcel said Thursday the power plant is again producing 14 megawatts of power, enough to serve about 14,000 homes.

The plant was shut down June 20, 2007, when one of two nearly century-old pipes that deliver water to the plant burst. About eight feet of water and tons of rock and dirt were washed into the plant.

There were no injuries and power was rerouted from other sources to accommodate residential customers.

Xcel said corrosion on a section of buried pipe caused the rupture. Repairs cost $12 million and the work was completed within the 10-month schedule as originally anticipated. Throughout the repairs, the Glenwood Canyon bike path and raft launching pad remained open and in full use, the utility said.

Although old and small, the power plant plays a powerful role in Colorado's water wars, where old water rights have priority to pull water from the state's rivers.

Shoshone, which started operations in 1909, carries some of the oldest water rights on the Colorado River -- and thus can pull water through its turbines that might otherwise be diverted out of the Western Slope river and to the Front Range.

But as a hydroelectric plant, all the water it uses returns to the river and is reused by rafters, towns and agricultural interests along the river to the Colorado border.

"The Shoshone Station produces 14 megawatts of clean, renewable power," Lou Matis, vice president of operations, said in a statement. "We're pleased to return this key part of our fleet to full operation within our budget and on time. The damage we sustained was considerable, and we want to thank other Colorado River water users for their patience throughout the clean-up and repair process."

To repair the power plant, crews rebuilt both water pipes with steel inserts that were grouted into place. The generators were rewound, and all the breakers, control cabinets, wiring and related components were replaced. The controls for the plant were updated and replaced, and the control system was redesigned for enhanced remote control of the facility. A new roof was installed on the building and the office space, which includes a lunchroom, computer room and restroom, was refurbished, Xcel said.

The plant is one of seven hydroelectric power plants owned and operated by Xcel Energy in Colorado.

I'm promoting a constitutional process. It just so happens to be that it involves a coal plant.

See, I believe liberals in Kansas have overstepped their boundaries. My thinking is similar to how they think Bush has overstepped his boundaries at the national level.

Liberals complain about Bush's handling of government and how he has taken the constitutional process to "the edge" of criminal, right?

You find out if he has abused "executive privilege" by suing the White House. Which has been done by Congress. A decision will come from the Supreme Court sometime after the 2008 election.

Historically the Supreme Court has refused to hand down a decision during an election in fear of influencing that election.

But it will come -- probably next year.

The Kansas Legislature should do the same thing (sue the executive) to find out if the "balance of power" has gone too far in Kansas and harmed the "separation of power."

If the Kansas Legislature does sue, I suspect the Kansas Supreme Court (also) is smart enough to hold off a decision until after the 2008 election.

Thank you for clarifying, however, I still do not understand how you think Bremby made a law. In my opinion, he had every right to make the decision he made - I understand it is within his power and privlege to make the decision that he made. If you could make the issue more clear or detailed, I would be glad to consider your information.

I thoroughly support following the law, however, if there is particular law that is not good, you go about changing that law. All too often we have laws on the books that are not enforced - perfect example is the immigration mess we are in and one we brought on ourselves since we didn't enforce the laws of the land.

Again, tell me in detail how Bremby "made" a law.

Check EPA mercury emissions standards.

Kansas is rejecting the licensing of a coal plant that falls within EPA guidelines.

Sierra Club has been complaining that EPA mercury emissions standards are too low -- the same club that wants wind energy and feel a new coal plant would set that back 50 years. Which is it, you don't like EPA standards or you want wind.

I don't think the EPA standards have anything to do with it. They want wind.

How come wind hasn't made a proposal to Kansas? Where is the bid? I'm ok with wind, but where's the damn wind farm people making a power bid for Kansas?

Anyway, back to mercury. In rejecting this coal plant, Bremby has effectively created a new law.

I don't know if the legislature would sue but I do know they'd win. I think Sebelius has railroaded things therough and I for one would love to see her constitutionally knocked on her butt.

Bremby is acting just as a court of law would that hands down an opinion that can declare another law unconstitutional. Bremby in effect is calling the EPA mercury standards unconstitutional.

KDHE is not a court of law.

I cannot buy your reasoning. We will see how it works out.

I know there are people out there who do not or want to recognize the pollution with respect to the intermodals but here again there is so much information out there to show how the diesel emissions affect people's lives and cause cancer, asthma, heart problems and other illness and doctors and specialists in the fields of medicine have tracked this for years. I still feel any government agency or official would be responsible to deny a permit for one of these projects based on research and common sense and not maybe just because it met the "standard" of a law.

I had a Jo. Co. Commissioner tell me a project "fit" a particular zoning request and yet all the evidence showed the project could and probably would adversely affect the health of the people in the area. Do I want a government official to use some good common sense and use his or her brain to make the right decision - I sure do!!!! Just as I taught my child when I was rearing her, you have to get all the information you can get and use good judgment in your decisions - just because something "fits" or "is within the law" does not automatically make it the right thing.

I find it interesting that in the same state, Kansas, we have conflicting morals being applied.

If you support the life of an unborn child that results in an abortion, you're an out-of-touch lunatic.

Now?

I say ok, quality of life apparently is no big deal. So I'll support cheap energy. By supporting cheap energy the activists are saying I'm an out-of-touch lunatic?

Is that the new "Peter" Principle. If it involves a peter, it's not a principled issue?

...will think I'm changing the subject. Not at all. Just showing the duplicity of the Governor.

Two moral issues -- two different stances from Governor Sebelius

On veto coal -- this heartfelt quote:

“We know that greenhouse gases contribute to climate change,” Sebelius said. “As an agricultural state, Kansas is particularly vulnerable. Therefore, reducing pollutants benefits our state not only in the short term – but also for generations of Kansans to come.”

-- K. C. Star

On veto of a bill to strengthen reporting on late-term abortions this law abiding decision:

“I am concerned that the bill is likely unconstitutional or, even worse, endangers the lives of women,” Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, said in her veto message.

--K. C. Star

First veto -- morals is the first thing that comes out of her mouth

Second veto -- the constitution is the first thing to come out of her mouth.