Don't expect Kansas to be joining that multi-state lawsuit against the EPA over emissions standards anytime soon.

Yesterday, Kansas state senators crushed a proposal to impose the state's first limits on carbon dioxide emissions. And then, just for good measure, they gave preliminary approval for the construction of two new coal-fired power plants in the Southwest corner of the state that are expected to emit 11 million tons of CO2 per year.

According to the AP, the "vote was 32-3 against the CO2 rules proposed by Sen. Chris Steineger, a Kansas City Democrat. His proposal included not only emissions limits for new power plants but a carbon tax of $3 on each ton of excess emissions for utilities that failed to comply."

The votes came in response to a decision last fall by the Kansas secretary of health and environment to deny an air-quality permit for Sunflower Electric Power Corp., which is trying to build the new plants. Yesterday's bill effectively limits the secretary's authority to do this anymore, stipulating that any attempt to impose emissions rules must receive legislative approval.

Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius is expected to veto the bills, but proponents of the measures say they have the necessary two-thirds majority in both the state senate and house to overrule a veto.