Our editorial today notes that even though Kansas seems far away from Heiligendamm, Germany, the site of the Group of Eight summit, a proposed coal-fired power plant expansion in southwest Kansas puts the state in the center of the global debate about the summit’s signature issue, climate change. So does Kansas’ current 10th place standing among states for its per-person emissions of carbon dioxide from electric generation, owing to its 75 percent reliance on coal-fired plants, according to an Associated Press analysis.
And with President Bush agreeing with other Group of Eight leaders Thursday on a call to substantially reduce global emissions, Kansas won’t just be bringing up the rear of the parade but could be marching the opposite way, if it welcomes two or three coal plants.
Greenhouse gas emissions and their environmental effects don’t brake for state lines and national borders, so the responsibility to respond to climate change must be shared.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
The way it’s headed, Congress’ approval ratings may drop soon below President Bush’s. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll showed that only 39 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing. That’s down five points from April’s rating, and it’s only four points higher than Bush’s 35 percent approval rating. Democrats in Congress still rate higher than Republicans, but the overall approval drop is driven mostly by liberal Democrats who are mad that Congress hasn’t done more about Iraq. Their support of congressional Democrats dropped 18 points since April.
Posted by Andie Clum
The $7.5 million first installment in state aid mostly for Kiowa County was authorized Wednesday by the State Finance Council to help cleanup and rebuilding. That was fast work, especially considering that the Legislature was out of session when the tornado struck Greensburg May 4. More money will be available under the state’s $32 million relief package and from the federal government. Timing is key, though: According to Associated Press, Greensburg residents have been told at town meetings that 53 businesses already have decided not to rebuild in town. "I think most of the businesspeople — I would say the largest percentage of them — have every intention of staying, but intentions don’t pay the bills," said farmer and businessman Scott Brown. "I hope there’s more to come."
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Sam Brownback, who has taken heat from The Eagle’s WE Blog and other Kansas media for his appalling absentee rate in the Senate this year, had this to say for himself in a Wednesday conference call with state media: "What I am trying to do is balance the work back-and-forth. Being in the U.S. Senate, being on campaign trail, I’m trying to do the best I can," he said, citing as reasons a January trip to Iraq and Afghanistan and the Greensburg tornado as well as his presidential campaign. As of Thursday afternoon, Brownback had missed 62 of 204 votes, or 30.4 percent, but had cast nearly 20 votes just since Tuesday.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
President Bush should heed the will of Congress and the majority of the public (64 percent, according to a new Gallup poll) and sign a bill loosening restrictions on federally funded stem cell research. But Bush vowed Thursday that he would veto the bill, just as he did a similar bill last July. That’s too bad, especially given that the stem cells would come from unused frozen embryos that fertility clinics plan to discard.
But there was also promising research published Thursday. Scientists were able to make cells equivalent to embryonic stem cells using the skin cells of mice. If the process can be replicated in humans, it could avoid the ethical objections to embryonic stem cells.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
