Kentucky energy

Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher is calling the General Assembly into special session Monday to deal with an energy bill.

Let’s hope the lawmakers exhibit a little energy of their own and at least engage in a little debate before voting to go home.

The bill includes tax breaks for a proposed $3 billion coal gasification plant, but election year politics mean the Democrat-controlled legislature doesn’t have much patience with Republican Fletcher.

The bill was part of the agenda for a special session Fletcher called last month. But the House decided to go home as soon as members got there, saying most of what the governor wanted them to do could wait until the next regular session in January.

This time the energy bill is the only thing on the agenda, which means it shouldn’t be too much trouble for lawmakers to focus their attention on its merits.