Repeal Of Light Bulb Ban Gets New Life
Earlier this week a bill to repeal the ridiculous ban on selling incandescent light bulbs in the United States failed despite getting a majority in the House. Due to the way the bill was brought to the floor a 2/3′s majority vote was required to pass it. The bill didn’t muster that much support.
But now it looks like the House gave approval to a second bill which would defund any enforcement of the incadescent bulb ban effectively repealing it, though the approval was in a voice vote and the bill’s sponsor wants an on-the-record vote today.
On Thursday evening, Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) proposed an amendment to the energy and water spending bill that would prohibit funds in the bill for use in enforcing the 2007 law.
“The federal government has no right to tell me or any other citizen what type of light bulb to use at home,” Burgess said. “It is our right to choose.” …
The House on Thursday evening actually appeared to approve Burgess’s language by voice vote; only a request for a recorded vote from Burgess himself prevented voice-vote approval.
To be honest, I’m not sure why Barton’s bill was brought to the floor in such a way as to require a 2/3′s majority. Why not just go back and bring that bill again, this time in a manner that only requires a simple majority?
Regardless, the sooner we get rid of the light bulb ban the batter. It may not be the largest issue this country is facing, but it is a simple of government overreach that has become far too common.
Tags: Light Bulbs
