Here’s a circumstance that you don’t see in the Missouri General Assembly very often. The House today passed a bill that is intended to deal with a situation strictly in Cass County (more on the situation in a bit). The two representatives from that area, Rep. Brian Baker, R-Belton, and Rep. Luke Scavuzzo, D-Harrisonville, were vehemently opposed to the legislation.

And yet a bill supported by two representatives from far away, Rep. Shane Schoeller, R-Willard, and Rep. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, passed in the House against the wishes of the local representatives.

Why? It’s a power utility bill. More specifically, it’s a bill that would allow Aquila to keep its Cass County power plant, even though they built it in violation of both county zoning and a court order. The bill put many Republicans in the awkward position of going against local control as well as law and order, two points that Democrats were having too much fun pointing out.

“Mr. Speaker, woe is them (Aquila) for not following the court ruling in the first place,” argued Rep. Jake Zimmerman, D-Olivette. “This is a stunning violation of the principle of local control.”

Schoeller, though, said that the idea of asking the company to tear down its plant defied common sense. “To tear down a plant that is around $150 million in value … does not make sense,” he said.

Baker gave the most stirring speech against the bill. “They admitted they took a risk,” he said of Aquila executives, who admitted as such in hearing testimony. “There are citizens in Cass Caounty who really believe this is being shoved down their throats.”

“In the end, this is simply bad policy,” Baker continued.

The bill would allow the Public Service Commission the ability to approve a plant that is already under construction retroactively. Baker said that’s a bad deal.

“Sadly, the PSC has become more of an advocate for the utilities,” he said.

The House passed the measure 88-49. It now goes to the Senate.