Fed light bulb mandates get temporary reprieve
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) questions the Department of Energy’s commitment to protecting consumer choice during consideration of Appliance/Light Bulb Energy-Efficiency legislation. Although not recent, it is well worth watching the doubletalk from Obama’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Kathleen Hogan.
Seeing Red AZ wrote about this scam and that of under performing low-flush toilets, in December 2007. It’s worth reviewing since government mandates implementing the use of compact fluorescent bulbs, while effecting a ban on incandescents was scheduled for implementation in 2012. The green game has been responsible for putting many Americans out of work. The last American light bulb factory closed last year.
This past October, with the Winchester Lamp Plant closure, the last 200 factory workers making General Electric light bulbs in the United States lost their jobs. GE which backed the job-killing government regulations, will still be manufacturing traditional incandescents — but in Monterrey, Mexico. The bulbs will be available in the emerging markets inIndia andChina, where more people use electricity every day, and no such restrictions exist.
With no money budgeted to implement this federal overreach in last week’s passage of the massive $1 trillion, 1,200-page spending bill that funds the government through the rest of this fiscal year, the measure has a temporary reprieve.
The spending bill doesn’t actually amend the 2007 law, but does prohibit the administration from spending any money to carry out the light bulb standards — for the time being
He sounds a whole lot sharper than Ron. The gene pool must have picked up some strength from the other side of the family.
None of these schemes fall under the framer’s vision of the Constitutional role of government. Legislate within reason, adjudicate with wisdom, maintain a strong national defense.
Telling citizens what they put in their homes is far outside the realm of reasonableness. Paul the Younger does a fine job of spelling it out for Obama’s Ms. Hogan.
Our Preamble clarifies:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
No mention of how to dispose of bodily waste or whether to read by candlelight or the fireplace.
I’ve been stocking up on incandescent light bulbs in 60, 75, and 100 watts, as well as 3-ways (50, 100, 150) for the past two years. I have enough less expensive and safer to dispose of bulbs (no mercury) to last me 20 years! This government overreach infuriates me.
A little history: 314 Democrats and Republicans voted for the light bulb idiocy. The 800 page bill was carried by Republican Fred Upton and Democrat Jane Harmon.
After the Republicrats & Democans passed it, they delivered it by Prius to the White House where a certain flap-eared “compassionate conservative” promptly signed it into law.
With “Republicans” like George Bush, the left doesn’t need nearly as many Democrats to fasten their socialist agenda on us.
Let me try to remember back a few years. Yes Garvan I believe that you are correct.
Also, as I recollect, George Bush upon pushing for TARP said “We need to use Socialism to save Capitalism”.
Brings me to another thought. Why do we need any more moderates?
The propaganda started like this. Well the new “green” light bulbs will be more energy efficient and last longer. I’ve tried them and they stink! They don’t put out enough light and they absolutely do not last longer. Just the opposite. You see what starts out as a good idea with the federal government just ends up costing the taxpayer one way or the other.
The federal government is in to so many things it shouldn’t be that it makes my head spin!
Oh Dear LORD my head HURTS!!!!! These legislators continue to get RE-ELECTED!!!
Now that the law is dead do you think GE will reopen their WV plant? This was exactly the kind of government intervention that Jeff Immelt wanted….another excuse to ship jobs to China. I am embarrassed to own GE stock and swear I will NEVER buy another item made by these fascists.