Republicans Declare Victory For Freedom After House Vote On Light Bulbs - Guardian

[hatrack]

Republicans claimed to have struck a blow for freedom on Friday when the House of Representatives voted to strip all funding from government programmes promoting energy-saving lightbulbs.

The measure, brought as an amendment to an energy spending bill by the Texas Republican Michael Burgess, bars the federal government from using any funds to enforce improved lighting efficiency standards.

In his remarks, Burgess cast the conservation of the old-fashioned 100 watt lightbulb as a burning issue of personal freedom. "The federal government has no right to tell me or any other citizen what type of lightbulb to use at home. It is our right to choose," he told the House.

He went on to read a letter from a constituent whom he identified only as Dave, who described the old 100 watt bulbs as "having sunshine at your home". LEDs and neon did not suffice, Dave was quoted as saying. The measure, enacted by voice vote, in effect guts a 2007 law, supported by Republicans and signed by George Bush, that set out 25% higher efficiency standards for lightbulbs, beginning in January 2012.

EDIT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jul/15/republicans-freedom-house-lightbulbs

[phantom power]

1. Definitely some of their best work since Freedom Fries(tm).

:eyes:

Generally, I see the Mighty Lightbulb Legislation Wars as a symptom of the much bigger problem that we don't price enough externalities into our energy. And of course, their behavior regarding the Lightbulb Wars pretty much tells us everything we need to know about how likely it is that we will ever properly price externalities.

[pscot]

2. Stupid is one externality

that definitely ought to have a higher cost.

[txlibdem]

3. I've got a letter to the congressman from a person identified only as txlibdem

It reads, in part, "Sir, you are a blithering idiot and a waste of oxygen. May I suggest a place for you to put your incandescent bulbs."

[struggle4progress]

4. Well, isn't that just precious? Bless their pointy little heads!