The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
Last night, House and Senate negotiators came to an agreement on a $1 trillion spending bill that would avoid a government shutdown. Not only that, but when all was said and done, a rider that would prevent the extinction of the incandescent light bulb (my favorite invention) was kept in the bill.
The Washington Times headline dramatically states "Congress Overturns Incandescent Light Bulb Ban"
Congressional negotiators struck a deal Thursday that overturns the new rules that were to have banned sales of traditional incandescent light bulbs beginning next year.
That agreement is tucked inside the massive 1,200-page spending bill that funds the government through the rest of this fiscal year, and which both houses of Congress will vote on Friday. Mr. Obama is expected to sign the bill, which heads off a looming government shutdown.
Congressional Republicans dropped almost all of the policy restrictions they tried to attach to the bill, but won inclusion of the light bulb provision, which prevents the Obama administration from carrying through a 2007 law that would have set energy efficiency standards that effectively made the traditional light bulb obsolete.
But this part I don't quite understand:
The bill doesn’t actually amend the 2007 law, but does prohibit the administration from spending any money to carry out the light bulb standards — which amounts to at least a temporary reprieve.
So, we're not out of the woods yet? Enemies of my favorite invention could still win the day? The ban is still in place, but money to enforce standards won't be allocated? How does this work, exactly? Anyone know?
Anyway, I mentioned last night during the live chat that I was planning to give 100-watt incandescent bulbs as Christmas presents. (Sigh.) So much for that great idea. I guess I've got to go out shopping again.
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May '10
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
I don't understand. Doesn't this need Obamao to sign it to have effect? Can we count on that?
May '11
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
In July, at Gov. Perry's urging, Texas passed a law allowing for the sale of incandescent light bulbs that were manufactured in Texas. That seemed like a pretty clever idea to me. I wonder if any new light bulb companies opened shop. They are probably not happy about this.
Aug '11
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
Hence the question mark.
May '10
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
Rick Blaskovich
Kervinlee
Mark Wilson: It's been said before, but I will keep pointing this out every chance I get. Energy "efficiency" is not a rational basis for this ridiculous ban. If you live in a climate where you heat your home, on days where you use any heat at all these bulbs have 100% efficiency. The heat they produce that the government calls "waste" directly offsets the need to use the furnace.
And better yet, the light bulb produces radiant heat that warms the rooms you are immediately in, because that's where you have the lights on. · Dec 16 at 9:16am
Smart! · Dec 16 at 9:22am
Expanding on that, these new efficient light bulbs are Mercury filled. You have to call in the Hazmat unit if you break one. · Dec 16 at 9:29am
Sorry, didn't mean to post on this comment but I agree; a Hazmat team for a broken lightbulb only shows the stupidity to which our leaders have descended. What about the tons of mercury going to the land-fill by folks (like me) who won't bother to get with the green program?
Edited on December 16, 2011 at 9:14pmMay '10
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
Songwriter
Agreed. And that's what makes Rick perry's concept of a "part-time" Congress so appealing. the less time they spend in Washington, the less damage they can do. · Dec 16 at 10:51am
Yep. Let's send 'em home and keep 'em there as long as we can.
Aug '11
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
Kervinlee
A Hazmat team for a broken lightbulb only shows the stupidity to which our leaders have descended.
Job security for the Hazmat team!
Dec '10
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
This whole conversation misses the point. We have a completely awful $1 trillion spending bill and we're happy about light bulbs? Why was it so difficult to overturn something that was completely ludicrous to begin with? Our leaders are inept and corrupt. That fact that we're celebrating this just shows how far we have to go. I fear we are not headed for a cliff, but falling through the air having already gone over. We still think everything is fine, but gravity will inevitably do its job and the splat is going to hurt.
May '10
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
This light bulb ban is petty tyranny. It's bad science and authoritarian in such a way that sets a very bad precedent for the types of power the government has over the citizens whom it is supposed to protect. I will cheer every time we stop this petty tyranny, because there are millions of petty tyrants who vote for it and will continue to vote for it, and will not yield in their desire to micromanage our lives. If we don't engage them on these fronts we might fix the debt and find our freedom gone.
Apr '11
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
I agree. This spending bill is awful.
Nov '10
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
I'm not sure I agree. I would think that those companies would be happy to have a potentially larger market.
I just want to know if this is real. Just saying you're not going to enforce the ban doesn't mean that people won't be afraid to sell the things, if indeed they are illegal. And who will supply us with the bulbs, knowing that the rug may be pulled out from under their business any second, on change in government whim?
Feb '11
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
If this is true, great news. I already have a big stockpile of 100 watters and now will go buy even more.
Plainly put, I don't like the government telling me what kind of light bulbs I have to use.
So if this is a way to insolently extend the middle digit to obsessive, tedious greenie do-gooders, then I'm all for it.
I hear they're coming for our top loader washing machines next, insisting that we do the Euro-front loading thing. Less water... big deal.. can't add stuff when it's running.
Like someone here months ago recounted the problems w/ low flush toilets that aren't putting enough water out to effectively carry away what needs to be carried away.
Or how about the LED traffic lights installed in northern states -- they didn't get hot enough to melt snow off them... and thus couldn't be seen.
The list goes on. Green follies all.
Feb '11
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
I am quite happy to have my closet full of incandescent bulbs. I have enough 100's to last the rest of my life. I'm working on 60's now. What Congress does, Congress can undo. Or redo. Or find a way to compound the original stupidity. It never hurts to take precautions.
Dec '11
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
Excellent news; this means the Lasik surgery can be postponed for a few more years!
Aug '10
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
Kervinlee
Songwriter
Agreed. And that's what makes Rick perry's concept of a "part-time" Congress so appealing. the less time they spend in Washington, the less damage they can do. · Dec 16 at 10:51am
Yep. Let's send 'em home and keep 'em there as long as we can. · Dec 16 at 12:10pm
Amen. At home, they can kiss babies, attend mall grand openings, and speak to Rotarians all day long, but they can't pass any more stupid legislation. Like, say - the incandescent light bulb ban.
Aug '10
Re: The Incandescent Light Bulb: Saved From Extinction?!
"Green Follies." Sounds like the name of a Broadway show from the 1930s. Politics and show biz - two sides of the same coin.