The Government Will Stay Out Of Your Light Sockets -- For Now
Via Crid, Darren Samuelsohn writes at Politico:
The shutdown-averting budget bill will block federal light bulb efficiency standards, giving a win to House Republicans fighting the so-called ban on incandescent light bulbs.GOP and Democratic sources tell POLITICO the final omnibus bill includes a rider defunding the Energy Department's standards for traditional incandescent light bulbs to be 30 percent more energy efficient.
DOE's light bulb rules -- authorized under a 2007 energy law authored signed by President George W. Bush -- would start going into effect Jan. 1. The rider will prevent DOE from implementing the rules through Sept. 30.
But Democrats said they could claim a "compromise" by adding language to the omnibus that requires DOE grant recipients greater than $1 million to certify they will upgrade the efficiency of their facilities by replacing any lighting to meet or exceed the 2007 energy law's standards.
How enraged would you be if you were in the bulb business and had already retooled or laid of your workers? Don't let anyone, CERTAINLY any Republicans, tell you that they've fixed the problem.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 16, 2011 12:56 AM
No biggie. You already sent all the jobs to China or Mexico. You can just have them manufacture more incandescents (in addition to the CFLs).
mpetrie98 at December 16, 2011 1:25 AM
For someone, somewhere, it's a "biggie".
CridComment@gmail.com at December 16, 2011 7:39 AM
If there's a better argument for small government than the whole light bulb debacle I don't know of it. It encapsulates all the follies and evils of big government in one issue.
DrMaturin at December 16, 2011 7:55 AM
Pet, this man is preparing to write about it, you should keep an eye out.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 16, 2011 11:22 AM
"authored signed?"
No, President Bush signed it. Some other morons authored and passed it. You can refer to Wikipedia to learn which party controlled both Houses of Congress in 2007.
MarkD at December 16, 2011 12:17 PM
I wonder if I can get one of those million dollar grants to retro fit my home office
lujlp at December 16, 2011 1:57 PM
"If there's a better argument for small government than the whole light bulb debacle I don't know of it. "
The washing-machines-that-don't-get-your-clothes-wet debacle. Watch for it.
Cousin Dave at December 16, 2011 3:15 PM
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/07/AR2010090706933.html
I still think the bigger debacle is the low flush toilets.
Jim P. at December 16, 2011 7:31 PM
Thomas Edison was a theif and a hack who stole other peoples work and marketed it as his own.
lujlp at December 17, 2011 8:17 PM
Please note: the Republicans stopped the funding, but didn't repeal it. All it takes is a change of political attitude (RINO anyone?), and it can be refunded, just as easily, or refunded via a hidden rider in another omnibus bill. As a store owner, are you going to lay in a stock, knowing that at any time, it could be declared illegal, and therefore a loss? As a business owner, are you going to build a plant, and start production, knowing that your product could be declared illegal, and your entire business, a loss?
My feeling is that both sides got something out of this. The Republicans can crow that they stopped it (for now), and the Democrats can have it dropped as an election issue(knowing that it can be reinstated in the future).
Steve at December 19, 2011 5:07 PM
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