Kansas GOP produces bill to outlaw even indirect public participation in sustainable development

[muriel_volestrangler]

Geophysicist's bill prohibits sustainable development
Wichita legislator has ties to oil and gas industry

Rep. Dennis Hedke, a Republican, brought the bill to the House Energy and Environment Committee of which he is chairman. He said Tuesday he saw no conflict of interest in the fact that he is a contract geophysicist whose client list includes 30 regional oil and gas companies.

"I can't see why," Hedke said. "I didn't think about that. It really never crossed my mind. I'd probably just say no."
...
The bill, HB 2366, defines sustainable development as "a mode of human development in which resource use aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come, but not to include the idea, principle or practice of conservation or conservationism."

It prohibits public funds from being used "either directly or indirectly, to promote, support, mandate, require, order, incentivize, advocate, plan for, participate in or implement sustainable development."

http://cjonline.com/news/2013-02-19/geophysicists-bill-prohibits-sustainable-development#.USPk4waAoZo.facebook

So, this means public funds can only go to unsustainable projects. It wouldn't matter if a project was sustainable by accident - if it's sustainable, public money cannot be even indirectly involved. The only purpose of public funding is to ruin the environment.

But, of course, the 'constituents' who he says he's representing aren't among his 30 energy industry clients. No, that hadn't even begun to cross his mind ...

[drm604]

1. I wonder if there's much support for this bill.

Hopefully this doesn't stand a chance at actually passing.

[LonePirate]

2. It's Kansas. If it is a bad idea and sponsored by a Republican, chances are high it will become law.