Topic: Light bulb legislation may hit House floor next week

[Pandora]

House Republicans plan to bring to the floor next week legislation that would water down a provision in a 2007 energy law that requires light bulbs to be more energy efficient.

   House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) has been working behind the scenes for weeks with other Republicans on the panel on compromise legislation to reel in the light bulb efficiency law. The lawmakers used a bill introduced by Rep. Joe Barton as a baseline, but the details of the final agreement were not immediately clear Wednesday night.

    “Chairman Upton announced in June that he was working closely with members of his committee on a legislative solution,” committee spokeswoman Charlotte Baker told The Hill in a statement. “He plans to bring a bill to the House floor next week.”

This legislation would repeal the provisions that did away with the use of incandescent bulbs, allowing consumers to have freedom of choice in which bulb to purchase. Obviously, Liberals are against choice

    A coalition of environmental and energy efficiency groups are mounting a campaign to defend the light bulb efficiency law.

    The groups are running advertisements in Capitol Hill newspapers that say, “Phasing in energy efficient light bulbs means more choices and more savings and that’s good for families, the country and the environment.”

Huh what? Making it against the law to manufacture and sell incandescent light bulbs in the United States creates more choice? Apparently, the groups have been snorting something that is also banned.

But, this does show Why Government Doesn’t Work. This is easy and simple legislation. You do away with the provisions that banned incandescent bulbs. Simple. Yet, this is taking weeks of working behind the scenes? Perhaps Upton, who pushed the bulb ban law in the first place, was going around and groveling to his colleagues.

Just repeal the gawdamned law -- one line of legislation, very simple -- no need to write a book.  I don't want it "reeled in", I want it GONE.

[rickl]

Just repeal the gawdamned law -- one line of legislation, very simple -- no need to write a book.  I don't want it "reeled in", I want it GONE.

They're legislators.  The remedy for a bad law is to pass another law that hopefully corrects the first one.  The word "repeal" isn't in their vocabulary.

When your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

[Pandora]

Check this out:

“It was never my goal for Washington to decide what type of light bulbs Americans should use," Upton said in a statement to The Hill. "

Really.  Never his goal?  Was this ANOTHER bill nobody read?

Upton’s support for the bill represents a change of tune for the energy panel chairman. He supported the 2007 light bulb efficiency law, much to the chagrin of his fellow Republicans.

But Upton now says the law limits consumers' choices.

Does anybody else hear the ticking or is it just in my head?

[John Florida]

Check this out:

“It was never my goal for Washington to decide what type of light bulbs Americans should use," Upton said in a statement to The Hill. "

Really.  Never his goal?  Was this ANOTHER bill nobody read?

Upton’s support for the bill represents a change of tune for the energy panel chairman. He supported the 2007 light bulb efficiency law, much to the chagrin of his fellow Republicans.

But Upton now says the law limits consumers' choices.

Does anybody else hear the ticking or is it just in my head?

  ::gaah::You had to say that now I hear it TOO!!

Potter Puppet Pals: The Mysterious Ticking Noise

[Libertas]

I hear a clicking, as in click-click goodnight!

[IronDioPriest]

Upton is a liar. He was fully invested in the Global Warming bandwagon when it looked like that was the direction the wind was blowing. He put his finger to the air, as did many other Republicans (Pawlenty, Gingrich) and felt all the political wind blowing from the AGW direction.

These people look like such fools now for all their deep concern as they tried to do legwork for the Left.

[Pandora]

Records show that Philips lobbied Congress this year over Barton's legislation, but would only tell IBD, "We support legislation that saves Americans money, delivers increased choice, while lowering energy consumption."

What legislation that might be is unclear, because those goals could be mutually exclusive. Indeed, Energy Secretary Steven Chu defended the ban last week, saying, "We are taking away a choice that continues to let people waste their own money."

Nevertheless, a GOP staffer said, "Certainly we have heard from the light bulb industry, but their opposition (to congressional bulb ban repeal efforts) "hasn't been as strong as you might think."

House leaders fast-tracked Rep. Barton's bill, meaning it needs a two-thirds majority to pass.

Assuming it clears the House, the bill's future may be dim. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has not scheduled a vote on companion legislation in the Senate. President Obama would likely veto the bill anyway.

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=577925&p=2

Argh.  So Phillips and GE (of course GE) were lobbying Upton et al. to get the ban passed in the first place because it meant more money for them and what business is it of theirs how much money I spend on "energy"?  It isn't and they really didn't give a rat's -- they're just more rent-seeking SOBs.

Icing on the outrage cake is Obama's probable veto.

Tick, tick, I tell ya ...........

[John Florida]

Records show that Philips lobbied Congress this year over Barton's legislation, but would only tell IBD, "We support legislation that saves Americans money, delivers increased choice, while lowering energy consumption."

What legislation that might be is unclear, because those goals could be mutually exclusive. Indeed, Energy Secretary Steven Chu defended the ban last week, saying, "We are taking away a choice that continues to let people waste their own money."

Nevertheless, a GOP staffer said, "Certainly we have heard from the light bulb industry, but their opposition (to congressional bulb ban repeal efforts) "hasn't been as strong as you might think."

House leaders fast-tracked Rep. Barton's bill, meaning it needs a two-thirds majority to pass.

Assuming it clears the House, the bill's future may be dim. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has not scheduled a vote on companion legislation in the Senate. President Obama would likely veto the bill anyway.

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=577925&p=2

Argh.  So Phillips and GE (of course GE) were lobbying Upton et al. to get the ban passed in the first place because it meant more money for them and what business is it of theirs how much money I spend on "energy"?  It isn't and they really didn't give a rat's -- they're just more rent-seeking SOBs.

Icing on the outrage cake is Obama's probable veto.

Tick, tick, I tell ya ...........

 You bet they were pushing to sell bulbs for 4/5 bucks each and they went so far as to close the last plant making old style light bulbs so we can't even produce them here any more.

 If I had the money I would buy the old equipment and hang on to it.