Special Session an Outrage

This special session is an outrage. There is absolutely no emergency requiring the legislature to convene. The Peabody coal to liquid gas discussion can and should wait just a few months later, after the election and after much more research into both the viability of such an enterprise and the all important federal role. There remains serious doubt that the plant would be economically feasible as well as environmentally sound.

Most telling is this: Peabody spokeswoman, Beth Sutton, said Kentucky was the only state being considered for this project, according to the Evansville, Ind., Courier & Press (http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/jun/29/peabody-looks-into-plant-site-in-sturgis/). They can maneuver all they want, but there is absolutely no way this is a situation demanding a special session. Every dollar wasted in this enterprise should translate to lost votes to Governor Fletcher for this blatant political ploy.

Most importantly, any decision to give away tax incentives, especially the all-important coal severance tax that is so crucial to the welfare of rural Kentuckians (all Kentuckians really), must be done only after a deliberate and through analysis. Applying high-pressure tactics (falsely based at that) is the polar opposite of the prudent approach required.

On the contrary, Kentucky should not give away any coal-severance tax, none.

Our leaders have for too long had us running scared. Kentucky has all the power and the leverage. It is our coal and our land. When we fully awake to our real strength we will begin to wield it for our maximum benefit.