The Net #5
Kansas Legislative Network News

March 1, 2008
Tom Thompson
Legislative Coordinator
Sierra Club Kansas Chapter
5001 Rock Creek Lane, Mission, KS 66205
Phone: 913-236-9161; cell: 913-687-2405;
email: tomnthompson@sbcglobal.net

Continued Support Needed

Many legislators who voted against Senate Substitute for HB 2066 or House Substitute for SB 327 are reporting they are mostly hearing from those complaining about their vote. These legislators need to hear from us to keep their votes against these bills and keep Holcomb from being built.

In the House the following need our support for CORRECTLY VOTING NO on House Substitute for SB 327:

In the Senate the following need our support for voting no on Senate Substitute for HB 2066:

Sen. Marci Francisco
Sen. Donald Betts
Sen. Laura Kelly
Sen. Anthony Hensley
Sen. Jean Schodorf
Sen. Chris Steineger
Sen. David Wysong

We must complain to all other legislators for their yes votes (see KLN #4). Tell you friends, relatives and neighbors.

This bill is now in Conference Committee and will be to the floor of the House and Senate for a concurrence vote next week. The number chosen for concurrence is House Substitute for SB 327. From now on I will refer to 327. Plan on hearing about this issue until the session ends April 5 th .

That is another thing that happened this week. For some reason the leadership of the legislature decided to shorten the session by one week. It was to end on April 12 but is now scheduled to end on April 5 .

Other Notable Bills

On Monday in the House Utilities Committee I testified in support of HB 2881 , which was another net metering bill. This time, it included both solar and wind. It was also closer to being a true net metering bill allowing 200% of avoided costs. This bill was also worked this week but was unfortunately defeated in committee 11 to 8. There was good discussion and many who did not support the bill have expressed hope that an agreeable can eventually be written. Rep. Tom Holland was the bills author. Tom then attempted to amend his bill into another on the floor of the house. This too was defeated.

On Tuesday, in the Senate Agriculture Committee there was a hearing for Senate Bill 595 . This bill was aimed at banning the labeling of "rGBH free" dairy products but could also effect the labeling of other farm products. Labeling like organic, range free, natural, hormone free and other descriptors often used by small farm businesses could be banned. On Tuesday, 14 opponents were signed up to testify. Unfortunately, no limits were put on supporters presentations so that the 14 were told to come back the next day. Some had driven 100 miles to be there. Most were able to return on Wednesday. The bill came through an exempt committee so may be worked after turn around.

There were no regular committee meetings after Wednesday this week. The only activity was in conference committees or on the floor of the House and Senate. Some bills that did pass were SB 580 which established a weatherization assistance account within the State Housing Trust Fund. This bill did have $2 million included from the state general fund but this was not included in the final bill. It will be able to get money from a federal program to use on weatherization. This will move to the Senate.

HB 2692 passed the House. It will allow utilities to receive on their investment in conservation and efficiency programs that are acceptable to the KCC. This passed by a 123 to 2 vote and will move to the Senate.

Next week the House will be off Monday and Tuesday to allow for turn around (passing bills between houses. The Senate is off Monday but will be in session on Tuesday to start business for the second half.

The House Select Committee on Energy and Environment for the Future on Wednesday will hear HB 2924 . This is a scary bill. It divides energy into base load, Intermediate load and intermittent load generation. It directs the state to encourage base load to be 60% coal, 40% nuclear and negligible natural gas by the year 2028. Guess where wind and solar are.

Tom Thompson
Legislative Chair
Sierra Club Kansas Chapter