The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 3

SALINA JOURNAL Great Plains MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2004 A3 CONGRESS Moran says Congress failed on three issues Lack of progress on biofuels, wind energy part of what frustrated official By JUDY SHERARD Hays Dally News HAYS U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran says he came away from the last congressional session disappointed in three things. The Hays Republican said his first disappointment was that Congress failed to address the issue of energy. Not only is it important nationally, but as an oil- and gas-producing state, Kansas should encourage production.

Kansas also has op- AREA NEWS portunities for energy-producing wind farms and using agricultural products to produce ethanol and biodiesel. "It's a huge opportunity for a win- win situation for the economy, Kansas and the environment," Moran said about converting agricultural products into fuel during the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce's Eggs and Issues forum Saturday. His second disappointment was the Medicare prescription bill. The 1st District that he represents is made up of 69 of the state's 105 counties and has as many older residents as any other district in the country except those in Florida and Arizona. Medicare funding already faces problems as baby boomers begin making claims.

Congress hasn't dressed that problem, and now the money will be gobbled up by drug prescriptions. Private pension plans could discontinue prescription benefits because of Medicare, and Veterans Affairs is looking at blending its coverage into Medicare. The current cost could be $400 billion, but it's projected to be $2 trillion in 10 years. Moran said he keeps thinking of his own daughters being saddled with the debt and couldn't "expect kids to pick up the tab of $2 trillion." However, when asked if the MORAN Medicare prescription bill can be fixed this session, Moran said it isn't likely because it's a huge political issue. He compared it to the No Child Left Behind legislation, which he said was meant to prove that the federal government is pro-education.

Seniors aren't the only ones faced with escalating health-care costs, though. "Young families struggle just as much as seniors," Moran said. Concerned by national debt His third area of concern is the growing national debt. "It's wrong ethically and morally," he said. The state must balance its budget at the end of the legislative session oven if it means making cuts, but that isn't the case for the federal government, he noted.

Congress doesn't exercise the discipline to say no often enough, he said. "It's time for us to have the discipline we've always talked about," Moran said. Later he was asked if he would give up projects in his district to balance budget. "Yes, I think all of us need to sacrifice," he said, but added the sacrifices must be fair. When asked about the transportation bill, Moran said the formula is important because it specifies how much money each state receives.

"I will be on the defensive to make sure it's not modified to hurt Kansas," he said. Briefly 2 drown ice fishing at Cheney Lake CHENEY The bodies of two Inman men were pulled Sunday morning from Cheney Lake in south-central Kansas, where they fell through the ice while fishing, authorities said. The Reno County Sheriff's Office identified the victims as Elmer Schmidt, 82, and Joe Goodson, 78. men went fishing Saturday morning. When they didn't return home that night, a family friend went looking f6r them.

The friend found the rtien's vehicle parked near the northeast edge of the lake. The tailgate was down, a signal used to show others that the men were still on the lake, according to the sheriff's office. After the friend failed to find the missing fishermen, he called law enforcement. Search teams looked unsuccessfully into the night, then resumed again Sunday morning, the release said. A medical helicopter from Wichita discovered the ice hole 300 yards off shore with the men's fishing gear nearby.

The bodies of the two men were recovered a short time later. "The 82-year-old fished three days a week," said Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson. "His family said that was his life, and if he had to go that was the way he would like to go. But his 78-year-old friend, mat was his first time out with lfim. That was kind of sad." State fair board hires new marketing firm TOPEKA Promotions for the Kansas State Fair will take on a new look and sound under aTnew marketing firm hired by tjie fair board Saturday.

The one-year, $175,000 contract went to Greteman Group, Wichita. The move ends a longstanding relationship with Catalyst Creative Services, fiutchinson. "It's hard to say we're going to something different, but it's important to try other things," said Mary Alice Lair, Piqua, State Fair board president. Board members encouraged the change, agreeing on it unanimously. New marketing, $bme said, accompanies extensive renovations at the fairgrounds as part of a $2,9 million master plan.

The contract, selected after marketing groups offered bids, has an option to renew for two one-year extensions. fcetts to replace in Senate WICHITA Donald Betts Jr. has been chosen as Wichita's aewest state senator. The 25- Sfear-old replaces Rip Gooch, tyho retired at age 80 from the 29th District Senate seat. "I will continue to do my lSest in all I do and with all my eart," Betts told the crowd of Peering Democratic precinct (Sommittee members who seated him in a close special Section Saturday.

Betts defeated Wichita City fiouncil member Carl Brewer tfc-17. From Wire Service Reports Corrections 5 The Journal wants to set the fccord straight. Advise us of Sfrors by calling the Journal at 85) 823-6363, or toll free at 800-827-6363. Corrections will In fhls'space as soon as MONDAY FOCUS Bob Highgate shows novice bird spotter David Criswell a picture of a house finch from his field guide. Field trip Photos by RYAN SODERLIN Salina Journal Marge Streckfus (left), Salina, and David Criswell, Salina, look for birds Saturday morning at The Land Institute, 2440 E.

Water Well, during a Smoky Hill Audubon Society monthly outing. Streckfus has seen more than 350 spe- ices of birds, while the field trip was Criswell's first time looking for birds. Criswell (left to right), Streckfus, Marty Bender, Kent Bahr, Lia Soils, Don Denison, John Shourtys and Bob Highgate walk through a pasture while birding. For more information the outings, call Highgate at 827-3364. Monday Focus is a weekly feature of activities If you know of a good subject to'' as seen through the lenses of Journal photographers, call deputy editor Ben Wearing at 822-1421.

YLEGISLATURE Ag laws already changed Past changes make cattle, food safe from mad cow disease By SARAH KESSINGER Harris News Service TOPEKA House Agriculture Chairman Dan Johnson, a Hays' beef producer, is satisfied state laws were tweaked enough in past sessions to protect the cattle supply and consumers against the spread of livestock disease, such as the recent mad cow case in Washington state. The Republican lawmaker expects more attention will go to prairie dog protection efforts and food inspection programs in the 2004 Legislature, which begins today. Senate Ag Chairman Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, agrees food inspection will be a priority for his committee, but he said concerns over bovine spongiform cephalopathy mad cow disease likely will spur adjustments in state law to conform to new federal regulations. Schmidt spearheaded efforts two years ago to strengthen protections in state law on cattle feeding after BSE and an epidemic of foot and mouth disease appeared in the British cattle industry. The human form of BSE also surfaced there.

"I don't anticipate any wholesale changes, because the base is already in place," Schmidt said Thursday. New federal guidelines should be defined first, he said, so lawmakers can see whether issues such as the new downer cattle ban also need to be addressed in state law. "There may be technical issues of that sort," Schmidt said. A group of mainly Johnson County lawmakers Thursday- proposed using an automated system to alert health authorities of possible disease outbreaks and bioterrorist attacks. Johnson said the Legislature's earlier work on livestock disease should have put the necessary safety mechanisms in place.

"I think it's a very low probability of anything like this here," he said. "I think the state of Kansas has done a very good job. I'm eating beef right now." Johnson sold cattle just before the recent scare, avoiding the resulting price drop. "I feel really sorry for those people who had planned to sell some cattle right after the first of the year," Johnson said. "Because of the drought, we sold earlier than normal and we could see the price was really good at that time." Fewer meth labs found in Kansas By The Associated Press LAWRENCE Statewide seizures of methamphetamine labs apparently were down for the second year in a row in 2003, according to initial figures from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

KBI statistics for all but December show that meth lab seizures last year totaled 482. The total for 2002 was 728, and for 2001 it was 847. The seizures include what are considered to be full labs as well as meth lab dump sites and the discoveries of partial labs, such as small amounts of chemicals, glassware or other equipment used to make phetamine. The statistics rely on local law enforcement agencies to accurately report to the KBI their meth lab seizures. "It could be that the local agencies are not reporting them or they will wait until the last minute," said KBI spokesman Kyle Smith.

Still, late reports for December coming from police and sheriff's departments are unlikely to bring the yearly total anywhere near totals of the previous two years, Smith said. Southeast Kansas has a history of being a hot spot for meth makers. In Cowley ty, 56 meth labs were seized through November, and 48 in Butler County. Cherokee County authorities seized 33 labs, and in neighboring Crawford County, 26 more were seized. "It's kind of like an infection and we haven't found a way to inoculate against it," Smith said.

Smith said southeast Kansas has an effective drug task force of officers from 25 agencies and the KBI working in the area. SUGGESTIONS? CALL BEN WEARING, DEPUTY EDITOR, AT 822-1421 OR 1-800-827-6363 OR E-MAIL AT.