THE Kansas Legislature’s 2008 session looks likely to end in confusion and recrimination. While the spectacle is, as always, entertaining, it is not good for the Legislature or the state.
As the clock counts down the hours to final adjournment, the greatest division in the Legislature does not seem to be between Republicans and Democrats — or even between this Republican and that Republican — but between the House and Senate.
The breach became clear Saturday when, as the Senate stocked up on No-Doz and prepared to pull an all-nighter like ill-prepared college freshmen at finals time, the House adjourned and went home for a good night’s sleep. The Senate leaders were angry because they wanted to finish the session in one great, sleep-deprived rush. The absence of the House made that impossible.
Also, the Senate chiefs said, the House leaders did not inform them that they were going home. If true, that was a breach of legislative courtesy.
But from the standpoint of the people of Kansas, the House decision made sense. Laws that affect the welfare and future of Kansas should not be approved by sleepwalking lawmakers while owls patrol for government mice on the darkened Statehouse grounds. Legislation is best when it is passed in the light of day after measured consideration.
And measured consideration is called for in the latest bid to legislate approval for the proposed coal-fired power plants at Holcomb. This session, the lawmakers have already approved two such bills. Both were vetoed by the governor and both vetoes were upheld by the House. But supporters of the plants want to take one last crack at the issue before final adjournment.
Albert Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
That definition could be applied to the Legislature and its coal-plant obsession.
But then it could also be applied to Kansans who expect the Legislature to behave in any other way.
Patrick S. Kelley
Editorial Page Editor
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Posted by citizen (anonymous) on May 6, 2008 at 3:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Govenor needs to wake up and stop vetoing the coal plant. She believes this is hazardous to our health but she is okay with people walking around with silencers and sawed off shotguns. Which is more hazardous?
Posted by blulitespecial (anonymous) on May 6, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think there is a recorded instance of any licensed machine gun being used in a crime,but maybe a reader that has access to records could say whether there's been one or two.About all the law does is bring Kansas on par with Federal law.The shortest shotgun barrel I have is 18",It is a USGI.Legal.So I'm not sure what "sawed off" refers to.Less than 18" is enough to get you in trouble. So I'm gonna guess coal.But we need coal and nuclear power yesterday,or we will deal with blackouts.
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