House Turns Out the Lights on Bulb Ban (LOSS of More FREEDOM)

Fox News ^ | July 12, 2011 | Chad Pergram

[yoe]

The House of Representatives voted to preserve a scheduled phase out of incandescent light bulbs Monday evening.

The Better Use of Light Bulbs (BULB) Act, would have rescinded efficiency standards for incandescent bulbs included in a 2007 energy bill.

233 members voted yes and 193 cast nay votes. But the House required a supermajority to approve this particular package. In this case, it would have needed 285 yea votes to pass.

Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) voted present.

The measure gained support after the 2010 elections, as tea party Republicans seized on the prohibition as an example of government overreach.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, says that the increased efficiency standards have the government picking winners and losers in the lighting market.

"To take off the market something that's cheap, effective, and average use costs two or three cents a week to use seems to me to be overkill by the federal government," Barton said of the move away from incandescent bulbs. Supporters of the bill also claim that the compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs designed to replace incandescent bulbs are too expensive and don't work as well as their 19th century competitor."Here's the bottom line, those of us at a certain age, under a compact florescent bulb, we don't look as good as an incandescent bulb," said Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, "The American people should be able to choose what type of light bulb they use in their home. They should not be constrained to all the romance of a Soviet stairwell when they go home in the evening."

[yoe]

Congressman Barton of Texas should not ever be re-elected as he is stupid...or stands to gain from this idiotic move....Bishop of Utah should join him in job hunting. In a very few years from now when our land fills are even more toxic, this time from Mercury, taxpayers will pay a fortune to have them cleaned up from this Kudzu-isk over-reach of our elected. Perhaps our courts will do the right thing this time by restoring our choice and freedoms.

[clintonh8r]

I will restart my hoarding program now. I wonder if the Feds will show up to confiscate my stash....

[Lou L]

Does anyone have the background on this silly law? Is it true that Bush signed it into law? Was this something goofy that the Dems attached to a war funding bill? Surely, the GOP did not sponsor the lightbulb bill, did they?

[Diogenesis]

Behold the 'value' of the RINO:

[goodnesswins]

I was thinking the same...(restarting the hoarding)

[2001convSVT]

“Does anyone have the background on this silly law? Is it true that Bush signed it into law? Was this something goofy that the Dems attached to a war funding bill? Surely, the GOP did not sponsor the lightbulb bill, did they?”

I would like to know the same things!

[F.J. Mitchell]

How many politicians does it take to change a light bulb? Just one to hold the bulb but a house full of idiots to turn the ladder as the bulb is screwed out and a piece of sh*t from China is screwed in.

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

DONATE

[Rapscallion]

Smash CFLs in public. PROTEST

[apillar]

I’m not sure I see the problem here, they got a majority although they were just trying to fast track by requiring a super-majority. So, just go through the normal channels and attach it to a must pass bill like the debt ceiling increase with a majority vote. (Unless they don’t really want to repeal it and this was all for show, which is a distinct possiblity.)

[Renderofveils]

Does anyone have the background on this silly law? Is it true that Bush signed it into law? Was this something goofy that the Dems attached to a war funding bill? Surely, the GOP did not sponsor the lightbulb bill, did they?

From wiki:

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Pub.L. 110-140[1] originally named the Clean Energy Act of 2007) is an Act of Congress concerning the energy policy of the United States. As part of the Democratic Party's 100-Hour Plan during the 110th Congress,[2] it was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Representative Nick Rahall of West Virginia, along with 198 cosponsors. Despite Rahall becoming 1 of only 4 Democrats to oppose the final bill,[3] it passed in the House without amendment in January 2007. When the Act was introduced in the Senate in June 2007, it was combined with Senate Bill S. 1419: Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007.[4] This amended version passed the Senate on June 21, 2007.[5][6] After further amendments and negotiation between the House and Senate, a revised bill passed both houses on December 18, 2007[7] and President Bush, a Republican, signed it into law on December 19, 2007 in response to his "Twenty in Ten" challenge to reduce gasoline consumption by 20% in 10 years.[8]

[Notary Sojac]

How about mailing a minimally padded CFL to any congressman who votes for the ban?

[Pilated]

How disappointing and disgusting that this failed. Thanks for nothing elected slave drivers.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

I’ve stashed away enough incandescents to last until I expire. My grandkids will probably inherit some of them. Bought 60 watt and 3-ways by the case online, in fact, my lastest order should arrive today.

[I am Richard Brandon]

"House Turns Out the Lights on Bulb Ban (LOSS of More FREEDOM)"

GOP = Dem, Voters = nothing!

[frogjerk]

This is coming back up for a vote as it was postponed as per the Speaker. They needed 2/3 majority because it was rushed through for some stupid reason. It will pass and go to the Senate where the real debate will happen.

[kevkrom]

Why are slamming Barton? He’s one of the good guys on this one.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (CPUSA-IL) was on WLS this morning and the hosts were giving her a rough time for voting against this. She said, “With the debt crisis and everything else going on and we’re wasting time on this?” But I guess passing the ban in the first place was a proper use of congressional time.

[massgopguy]

Wait until restaurants, stadiums, function halls, schools, auditoriums, churches etc, have to be evacuated because a light bulb broke. What about Christmas lights? We put LED lights on the eight Christmas trees at our Parish Nativity scene. You can barely see them.

[massgopguy]

Wait until restaurants, stadiums, function halls, schools, auditoriums, churches etc, have to be evacuated because a light bulb broke. What about Christmas lights? We put LED lights on the eight Christmas trees at our Parish Nativity scene. You can barely see them.