Sunday, June 11, 2006

Kennedy Special Interest

In the Washington Post:
"More than 130 wind turbines are proposed for the hilltops of central Wisconsin, but that project and at least 11 others have been halted by the Defense Department as it studies whether the projects could interfere with military radar.

Wind farm developers, Midwestern legislators and environmentalists say the farms pose no risk, noting that there are already numerous wind farms operating in military radar areas. They say a renewable, domestic source of energy such as wind is crucial to energy security and independence.

They say their wind turbines are victims of the ongoing dispute between Cape Cod residents and developers of the proposed Cape Wind farm in Nantucket Sound. The Defense Department study was put in the 2006 Defense Authorization Act -- inserted, say wind farm developers, by senators who want to block Cape Wind."

I wonder which Senators might want to block Cape Wind? I've read in the past that the Kennedy family was opposing the project. Should we guess that Senator Kennedy was involved in inserting the study in the defense appropriation bill?

I wonder if the news article even mentions Senator Kennedy? Yes, here is the mention:

"Critics of Cape Wind, including Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), have said that the 130 proposed turbines about six miles offshore would hurt views, tourism and migratory birds."


But, I still wonder which Senator or Senators inserted the study in the bill?

Supreme Court justices are supposed to recuse themselves from matters bearing on their personal interests. Perhaps members of Congress should have to recuse themselves from participating (proposing studies) in issues bearing on their personal interests, unless of course we want members of Congress to essentially be their own personal special interest group, eh?

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