Undoing Light Bulb Mandates

House Republicans are trying to undo damage done in the past by attempting to repeal the federal ban on incandescent light bulbs.

Is the traditional 100-watt incandescent light bulb about to go the way of the Tyrannosaurus Rex?

Some Republicans on Capitol Hill hope not.

They want to overturn the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, signed by then-President George W. Bush. The law requires all 100-watt incandescent light bulbs to be almost 30-percent more energy efficient by Jan. 1, 2012.

Since that means higher production costs, manufacturers in America have stopped making the traditional bulbs. Some consumers have already started stockpiling the old-model bulbs, complaining that the replacements cast a unattractive light compared to the warmth of incandescent bulbs.

It’s not just light bulbs, as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) points out. It’s the Algore low-flush toilet — or terlet, if you are Archie Bunker. It’s your shower head. Your refrigerator. Your washing machine.

The Kentucky Republican began making the link between the personal, the political and the plumbing-related when he asked Kathleen Hogan, the DOE deputy assistant secretary on energy efficiency, “I was wondering if you’re pro-choice?”

“I’m pro-choice of bulbs,” Hogan responded.

“Actually, that’s the point,” Paul said, during an appliance efficiency hearing at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

“The point is that most members of your administration probably would be frank and characterize themselves — and upfront — as being pro-choice for abortion,” he said, “but you’re really anti-choice on every other consumer item.”

Paul continued on a string of attacks against federal regulations and labeled the lighting efficiency standards set by a 2007 energy law as just another government overreach.

“Light bulbs, refrigerators, toilets, you name it. You can’t go around your house without being told what to buy,” Paul said. “You restrict my purchases. You don’t care about my choices. You don’t care about the consumer.

“Frankly, my toilets don’t work in my house, and I blame you and people like you who want to tell me what I can install in my house,” Paul said. He added, “I find it insulting.

“I’m all for energy conservation but I wish you’d come here to extol me, to cajole me, to encourage,” he said. “But you come instead with fines [and] threats of jail.”

The Left is decidedly anti-choice when it comes to anything other than abortion on demand. Then, it’s “Hands off my body!”

The Left thinks you are too stupid to choose the “correct (as they see it)” light bulb, the “correct” toilet, the “correct” shower head, the “correct” refigerator, the “correct” washing machine. Heck, as evidenced by the First Yeti herself, Moochelle, they don’t think you are smart enough to make the “correct” decisions when it comes to feeding yourself.

Republicans had a hand in the light bulb fiasco. The ban was co-authored by Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and signed by El Presidente Bush. Now, Upton claims to have seen the light and admits he was mistaken. He was rewarded with being named chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

At least they are trying. Not that it will do much good with Democrats in control of the Senate and Our Lord and Savior Barack Hussein Obama in the White House.

We’ll have to wait until January 2013 to finish reversing this mistake.

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