Thu, Nov 26 2009
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Published May 22, 2009 10:43 pm - Area Kansas legislators say the session that recently ended had few high points. The struggle to balance the state budget resulted in many unpleasant program cuts. “It was, unfortunately, a defensive year,” said state Rep. Doug Gatewood, D-Columbus. “A lot of important programs took a hit. It was a year of shared sacrifice.” Kansas legislators say session proved to be a difficult one By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com Area Kansas legislators say the session that recently ended had few high points. The struggle to balance the state budget resulted in many unpleasant program cuts. “It was, unfortunately, a defensive year,” said state Rep. Doug Gatewood, D-Columbus. “A lot of important programs took a hit. It was a year of shared sacrifice.” State Rep. Bob Grant, D-Cherokee, said Gov. Mark Parkinson on Monday put it well when he said the budget work was painful for everyone, but not crippling. Energy deal Some legislators consider the governor’s agreement to allow Sunflower Electric Power Corp. to build a coal-powered plant at Holcomb to have been a positive development. The legislation included provisions requiring state power utilities to generate 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020. It also included incentives for consumers to use alternative power sources and alternative fuels. The agreement was criticized by environmentalists, who said the “green” provisions weren’t adequate to compensate for the plant’s pollution. Grant is one of those who considers the energy bill a highlight of the session. He said it will create hundreds of jobs. State Sen. Bob Marshall, R-Fort Scott, said his provision requiring that at least 5 percent of the coal burned at the plant be Kansas coal, was included in the final bill. He said that would encourage fledgling coal-extraction efforts in Southeast Kansas. Gatewood said the energy bill was a compromise. State Rep. Julie Menghini, D-Pittsburg, who has called herself an environmentalist, said the energy bill was a disappointment. She voted against it. She said the requirements for renewable energy sources in the bill were weak. “There was nothing in it that would make voting for a large coal plant work for me,” Menghini said. “I think the deal could have been a lot less one-sided.” Minimum-wage hike 
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