Let There Be Light ("like something out of a Soviet stairwell")

The National Review ^ | February 14, 2011 | BRIAN BOLDUC

[Cincinatus' Wife]

...And darkness covered the nation, as the ban’s effective date, Jan. 1, 2012, drew near.

And the people said, “Let there be light.” But will there be light?

If Freedom Action succeeds, there will. A political-advocacy group formed by members of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, FA recently launched a campaign to repeal the ban. Starting with an online petition, the group hopes to gather enough grassroots support to move legislation in Congress.

..... “After the low-flush toilet was mandated, there was this explosion of opposition to it, but it never got focused,” Ebell says. This time, he plans “to focus more of the public’s anger on Congress. ......

...Rep. Joe Barton (R., Texas) has already introduced H.R. 91, the “Better Use of Light Bulbs” Act. Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Enzi (R., Wyo.) and Rep. Michael Burgess (R., Texas) are expected to introduce their own legislation soon.

[snip]

That said, Burgess also supports outright repeal: “The light from compact fluorescent bulbs is like something out of a Soviet stairwell. For those of us of a certain age, this wavelength of light is extremely unflattering. It makes us look older than it needs to. And as you get to a certain age, your eyesight isn’t as good as it needs to be. . . . Don’t tell me that I’ve got to read by a certain wavelength of light.”

One problem repeal advocates face, however, is a Republican. Rep. Fred Upton (Mich.) is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He voted for the ban in 2007.....

“I don’t know what it might take [to win Upton’s vote],” Ebell admits. “He may find out that his constituents don’t like it any more than other constituents.”.......

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Rep. Fred Upton

Fred Upton's House web site: Washington, DC, Dec 7, 2010 -

[Full Text]

The House Republican Steering Committee today selected Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI) to be the next Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Upton, who has served on the Energy and Commerce Committee since 1991, made the following statement upon learning of the Steering Committee vote.

"I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with Speaker Boehner, Leader Cantor, Whip McCarthy and the entire Republican Conference as we repeal Obamacare, fight rampant job-killing regulations, cut spending, and help put folks back to work.

"As our new majority pledged to America, 'We dedicate ourselves to the task of reconnecting our highest aspirations to the permanent truths of our founding by keeping faith with the values our nation was founded on, the principles we stand for, and the priorities of our people.'

"We face many challenges, but priority number one is to repeal the job-killing Obamacare law. While the various subcommittee posts will be filled in the days ahead, the fight to repeal Obamacare starts now and I am pleased to appoint Rep. Joe Pitts as chairman of the Health Subcommittee. Together, we will protect the sanctity of life, ensuring early next Congress that no federal funds are used for abortion.

"Energy and Commerce will also immediately adopt new rules to cut spending and restore fiscal responsibility.

"If we have learned anything these last two years of soaring unemployment and out-of-control spending, it is that government is not the answer to all our ills - it is, in fact, the root cause of many of them.

"The Obama administration is on notice - they will not be allowed to regulate what they have been unable to legislate.

"In his January 1989 farewell address to the nation, my old boss President Ronald Reagan warned: 'As government expands, liberty contracts.' The American people spoke loud and clear on November 2nd, and we have a charge to stand up for liberty and deliver the real change that the American public expects and demands. We will not let them down."

A copy of Upton's memo to his Republican colleagues is attached and can also be found HERE. [End]

[Ann Archy]

STOP HIS MADNESS....NOW, FRED!!!!! Are youy LISTENING SPEAKER BOEHNER???? You will ALLL be TOAST if this isn’t taken care of in the next few MONTHS! You will NEVER get re-elected.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Freedom Action ["President Reagan said, "When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat." Washington is now completely in the dark—we are here to help you put the heat on.]

[Mind-numbed Robot]

No, Washington is not in the dark! They know exactly what they are doing. Some are pushing an agenda and some are just going along to get along, thinking the issue is not important enough to fight over.

Regardless, a good blistering heat wave will get them in gear. They will then see that it is important to us and that we are important to them.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

This needs to be PUSHED back.