Lawmaker’s Questions Thwart Statehouse Power Plan Plan

AP) – The construction of a new power plant for the Kansas Statehouse and four nearby state office buildings has been delayed following bipartisan legislative criticism over how the project is being financed.
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s office confirmed the delay in construction Wednesday after top GOP legislators said the project had been postponed because of lawmakers’ questions.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee also postponed a confirmation hearing for interim Administration Secretary Sarah Shipman. Her department developed the $20 million project.
The new plant would replace a power plant in the Docking State Office building. The state plans to demolish the Docking building.
The department is financing the new plan through a lease-purchase agreement. Lawmakers have said they have questions about it and weren’t informed before it was finalized.