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July 10, 2011

Texas aglow with effort to save the incandescent bulb



Irritated with federal regulation, Republicans hope a state law will get around a national mandate to replace old-fashioned bulbs with more efficient lamps.

By Richard Simon, Los Angeles Times

Reporting from Washington— It doesn't have the ring of "Remember the Alamo," but a new battle cry has gone up in Texas: "Remember the incandescent bulb."

Texas has become the first state seeking to skirt a federal law that phases out old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs in favor of more efficient lamps — a move that has emerged as a shining example of Republicans' resolve to strike down what many view as excessive federal regulation.

Texas hopes to get around the law with a measure recently signed by Republican Gov. Rick Perry declaring that incandescent bulbs — if made and sold only in Texas — do not involve interstate commerce and therefore are not subject to federal regulation.

"I think that Texans as a whole are tired of the federal government trying to micromanage our lives," said George Lavender, a Republican state representative who sponsored the legislation.

Critics of the federal mandate hope the Texas action will spur Congress to repeal the light bulb rules or prompt other states to adopt similar laws. The Republican-controlled U.S. House on Monday is expected to take up a repeal measure sponsored by a Texas congressman. Efforts also are underway in Pennsylvania and South Carolina to follow Texas' lead.

The 2007 federal energy legislation phases out the old-style incandescent bulbs over three years, starting with 100-watt bulbs next Jan. 1. Supporters said that consumers will be able to buy a new kind of incandescent bulb that is more efficient and cost about $1 more. The latest model — shown off to lawmakers recently — surrounds the filament with a halogen capsule that uses fewer watts.

(More...)

11 comments:

Keads said...

South Carolina is doing the same!

TS/WS said...

We can't get the Dems in the Texas Senate to stop blocking these bills that tell the Feds where to get OFF.
There is a rule in the Texas Senate that requires 21 votes to bring a bill to a vote. Senator Dan Patrick has been trying to round up support for a change to 19 votes, but the others do not want to change it. There are only 31 Senators and 19 is more than half, but the Dems don't like being out of power and like to use the 21 rule to cause trouble.
This is what happened to the TSA groping bill, and sonogram bill, and voter ID bill, and on and on...
Good luck to the other states.

Woodsterman (Odie) said...

God Bless Texas!

Brer Rabbot said...

If congress is finding it too tough to “reach across the isle” to cut spending, maybe the American people can greatly help by just not sending it in like they want in the first place. It’s really amazing. They just TELL us to send OUR money to them and they’ll spend it any g’dmd way they want, so kiss our ass infidels!! You don’t tell US what to do, We tell YOU what to do.
Frankly, I’m sick and tired of wusses like John Boehner kissing up to the democrats and obama. I'm sick as hell about him.

Brer Rabbot said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Doom said...

Why did they stop with light bulbs though? Perhaps as a trial balloon? If it works, put all products in that line-up, from toilets to automobiles. Texas would BOOM, more than it is. And the 'black market' would just explode... I would drive there myself, if I had to, for a few items. And why not pick up a few things to... barter back home?

Anonymous said...

Doomster... I agree.

Anonymous said...

Brer Rabbit, as a taxpayer I may consider not raising my tax debt ceiling.

Kid said...

A couple years ago, I bought a couple LED nightlights. About $3.50 ea. The package said they'd last 25 years. They're in the trash.

Dwrek said...

Limiting our freedoms 1 by 1

Charley B said...

I can't find any of these new bulbs that are made in the United States.