South Carolina Bill Would Overturn Federal Light Bulb Ban

February 28th, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today urged passage of a bill by South Carolina State Representatives Bill Sandifer and Dwight Loftis that would allow the manufacture and purchase of incandescent light bulbs in South Carolina that are subject to a federal ban that begins to take effect in Jan. 2012.

"State Representatives Sandifer and Loftis are taking the lead in protecting the rights of South Carolina consumers, who don't want the federal government telling them which light bulbs they must use," Wilson said.

"The basic concept of the bill is to allow the citizens of South Carolina to be able to continue to buy incandescent light bulbs," said State Representative Bill Sandifer, Chairman of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee.

"It is my strong belief that the feds have overstepped the Tenth Amendment, and now are venturing into telling us what kinds of lighting we can have in our homes," Sandifer added.

But how can the federal government ban light bulbs? "They are trying to use again as they have so often done, the Commerce Clause. But I have a real problem with Big Brother intruding in how I live in my home," Sandifer declared.

Read more: http://www.kiowacountysignal.com/topstories/x1580326220/South-Carolina-Bill-Would-Overturn-Federal-Light-Bulb-Ban

The law merely sets energy efficiency requirements, similar to fuel efficiency requirements in cars, that incandescent bulbs will not be able to meet unless there is some kind of breakthrough in manufacturing them. That's why the major light bulb manufacturers have already come up with compact halogen bulbs for uses where compact fluorescents and LEDs aren't suitable. Furthermore, high wattage and low wattage incandescents, such as are used in specialty applications (outdoor lighting, Christmas tree lamps, nightlights) are exempted. Nor does the law privilege CFLs over other technologies.

Either way, it's a ban against the present day common incandescent bulb.

Put a whole bunch of Americans out of work in the process, by the way. Union jobs too.

They still make light bulbs just not the ones that are so wasteful..Same as making the auto companies put cataletic converters in all cars..Some things government just has to do because corporations simply won't unless forced to.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/07/AR2010090706933.html

Of the lightbulbs that are to remain legal, none of them are actually made here.

Incandescent bulbs are were made here. Not anymore.

Are the projected benefits worth the consequences?

Or should I say, why doesn't anyone manufacture them in America?

This country is too fucked up to do business in? Too much corruption and red tape and the highest corp tax in the world and the still unresolved health care financing situation is a toxic brew of anti-businessfectant.

Looks to me like you're the one being cavalier about union jobs here. Several posts into the thread already, you have yet to articulate a good reason why these jobs had to be shipped to China.

It has actually led to increased choices in lighting and created jobs.

and I'll show you a country that manufactures higher efficiency bulbs.

So besides China, who has done such a thing?

While I use CFLs for many applications, I do not like the color. Furthermore, the dimming features are pathetic. They flicker, they buzz and they give me a headache.

Incandescent bulbs should remain an option.

I like incandescents for reading because CFLs are too "cold". These new halogens which fit in a traditional socket might be a solution. Not as efficient as CFLs, but much more efficient (20%) than Edison bulbs.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20031803-54.html

If they have an improved life-cycle too, they may indeed by an option.

Keep selling incandescent bulbs, but include a carbon-offset tax on each one.

:sarcasm:

:headbang: