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Fire hydrants are about the only clue that the Downtown property once occupied by Heartland Health was intended to become a residential neighborhood.

The Energy and Water Appropriations Bill passed Thursday by the U.S. House contains a couple of flood-protection items for St. Joseph.

The spending measure sets aside $291,000 for continuing design work of Missouri River levees protecting Elwood and Wathena in Kansas and the Missouri Air National Guard base in St. Joseph.

A feasibility study wrapped up in 2006 designated 13 miles of levee to be raised.

Federal funds, though no specific amount, were added in the bill for the Blacksnake Creek project, which addresses flooding and stormwater detention issues in a 3,300-acre watershed area.

The items were added into the legislation by Northwest Missouri Congressman Sam Graves and Missouri Sen. Kit Bond.

In the afternoon vote, which went 308 to 114 for approval, Mr. Graves voted against the measure. A spokesman for his office said he opposed the overall bill but supports the projects in his district.

Northeast Kansas Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins also voted against the bill.

The Senate has to pass the bill before it goes to President Obama for his approval.

For tax relief

In terms of good and better, temporary tax relief is the former and permanent relief the latter, Mr. Graves believes.

Speaking Wednesday at a meeting of the House Small Business Committee, in which he is the top Republican, the Tarkio lawmaker said making permanent the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, set to expire in 2010, would spur companies to more activity. Such a move would give small firms “confidence to purchase new equipment and hire more workers,” he said.

Taxes rank as a top concern for small businesses, which must deal with complex laws dealing with depreciation, employment taxes and independent contractor rules, Mr. Graves insisted.

“It is even more difficult for companies to operate when tax provisions are temporary because they can not effectively budget or plan for the long term,” he said.

Possible

bipartisanship

Ms. Jenkins thinks Americans agree on some aspects of health care reform. With that, she said Wednesday, a way might exist toward bipartisan legislation.

Speaking on the House floor, the Northeast Kansas Republican said Americans agree a reform bill should provide care to those with pre-existing conditions, should root out waste and should extend benefits in a way affordable to all families.

In short, she said, a solution must be found to “fix the system without destroying it.”

Ms. Jenkins said, “It appears the current House proposal is not what Americans are asking for.”

Ken Newton can be reached

at kenn@npgco.com.