HuffPo - "GOP Lawmakers Target Efficient Light Bulb Mandate"

[TomCADem]

GOP continues its push to take us backwards:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/10/gop-republican-light-bulb-mandate_n_834294.html

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mike Enzi has a dim view of a federal law requiring light bulbs to be more efficient.

The Wyoming Republican is pushing a bill to repeal the 2007 law and give consumers the choice to buy any light bulbs they want.

"Government doesn't need to be in the business of telling people what light bulb they have to use," Enzi said. "If left alone, the best bulb will win its rightful standing in the marketplace."

Twenty-seven senators – all Republicans – support the bill, but many Democrats and consumer groups say the plan is not so bright. They call it a step backward and compare it to trading in a fuel-efficient hybrid car for a gas-guzzling SUV.

[Guilded Lilly]

1. Apparently the lightbulbs in their brains are as dim as they come.

[Drale]

2. Waisting more time

so they don't have to deal with real problems.

[Old and In the Way]

3. Little bread, lots of circuses.

Don't matter, the 'market' has spoken. People understand lighting/power efficiencies that motivate the change to new technologies. Since we don't manufacture them and the rest of the enlightened world could give a shit what Republicans think, their pronouncements on the subject are strictly redmeat for their base: the rubes. I'm sure some enterprising company will be happy to sell incandescents to the morons at a premium with even weaker resistive elements. They can thumb their noses collectively at those liberals while they pay larger utility bills and make more frequent trips to Wal-Mart to buy their 1920's lighting technology.

[pinkkillersheep]

4. Ya, I thought the last factory that made incandescents already closed down?

I remember hearing that on the radio some time ago. I doubt it'd be cheap to start them back up again. Not to mention, the utility companies want people to use CFLs too - they're having enough trouble as it is producing enough electricity to cover peak demand.

[madrchsod]

6. there`s one left that makes heavy duty commercial light bulbs

i`m buying as many as i can...i do`t like the cfl light.

[Old and In the Way]

10. The original cfl's were a lot like flourescent tubes.

Today, you can get 'em in the yellow light tint that seems warmer than the ghastly white. Look for color temps on CFL's under 3000 Kelvin. I use the warmer cfl's in the traditional bulb type configuration....I really can't tell the difference between a 15w cfl and a 60w incandescent.

[madrchsod]

12. thanks

[Maine_Nurse]

5. The law is just going to increase cost for us that have legitimate incandescent uses.

I wouldn't be sorry to see the law repealed. Plenty of farmers and rural folks agree with me.

[madrchsod]

7. they do`t work well in cold weather apps...

and how ya going to warm up the chicks with a cfl bulb?

[Tesha]

20. Strangely enough, heat lamps, halogen lamps, resistive heaters, and the like...

...will still be available; the chicks won't freeze.

And we haven't had any trouble starting our CFLs
outdoors even here in the 0°F NH winters.

Tesha

[EC]

8. What's the point?

All the factories doing incandescent have already closed, haven't they? These guys are all so petty.

[sakabatou]

9. So GOP, where's the jobs?

[tanyev]

11. How many Republicans does it take to never change a light bulb?

[jmowreader]

13. Enzi needs to change one word in his statement

It should read, "if left alone, the cheapest bulb will win its rightful standing in the marketplace."

Here's a little experiment for Senator Enzi: Go to your local Walmart (they should have NO problem with a senator offering free labor) and build an endcap. On one side put 60-watt incandescents at 99 cents per pack of four. On the other side put the equivalent size CFL at $7.95 per pack of four. Watch which one sells fastest.

Y'know, the Republicans ran for office saying they were going to solve all our problems. Why is it then that they have not done one fucking thing to help this country?

[Canuckistanian]

14. The freedom to pay more for electric bills

God Bless America.

[Teaser]

15. so sick of the stoopid

.

[Modern_Matthew]

16. This light bulb fight has highlighted the pettiness of both sides. nt

[CatWoman]

17. what is this "both sides" shit?

[groundloop]

18. What CatWoman said - Which "both sides"?

The law mandating light bulb efficiency was signed into law in 2007. Quick quiz question - who was president in 2007?

[Joey Liberal]

19. Pettiness from the left? I don't think so. nt