House Votes to Hamper a Law on Light Bulbs [View All]

Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON — The House voted on Friday to withhold funding to enforce part of a 2007 law that increases efficiency standards for light bulbs.

The new standards, which would require most light bulbs to be 25 to 30 percent more efficient by 2014 and at least 60 percent more efficient by 2020, have become a symbol of what conservatives see as an unnecessary intrusion into the market.

“The federal government has no right to tell me or any other citizen what type of light bulb to use at home,” said Representative Michael C. Burgess, Republican of Texas, who offered the measure as an amendment to a 2012 energy and water spending bill. The light-bulb provision was approved on a voice vote; later the House voted 219 to 196 to pass the energy bill.

Although the efficiency regulations do not specify what types of bulbs are allowed, the standards would effectively eliminate many of the most popular choices on the market beginning with the 100-watt incandescent bulb on Jan. 1. If it becomes law, the provision approved Friday would prevent the Energy Department from enforcing the regulation in 2012.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/16/business/house-votes-to-withhold-funding-for-light-bulb-law.html

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The John Boehner/Eric Cantor-led House achievements of 2011:
- Defunding Planned Parenthood, NPR
- Repealing ObamaCare
- Renewing the PATRIOT Act
- Banning same-sex weddings on military bases
- And now weakening a light bulb efficiency law.
- And right now annoying President Obama on the budget and debt.

Meanwhile...WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMY?