GOP going to repeal light bulb efficiency law

“In a move that could be called anything but conservative, Republican lawmakers are set to bring a bill to the House floor next week that will repeal state and municipal rights to set efficiency standards for light bulbs.  The bill would unravel a piece of federal legislation that was strongly supported by light bulb manufacturers and has spurred innovation in the lighting industry.

The bill, sponsored by Texas Republican Joe Barton, would strip away any “federal, state or local requirement or standard regarding energy efficient lighting” that uses light bulbs containing mercury. In other words, all compact fluorescent bulbs…”

  Think Progress

 

  This is one of the types of issues that Republicans love.  Some other people also go for things like this…  water fluoridation… flu vaccines… child immunizations and other issues like this …  
  The scary thing being used now is “MERCURY”  … oh no “MERCURY” …
  Truth is that there is a small amount of mercury in the compact fluorescent bulbs.  AND there is a small amount of mercury in fluorescent bulbs.  We been using fluorescent bulbs for a long long time and the Republicans did not care.
  They only care now because they do not want the federal government to be allowed to make rules. 
  If the repeal of the light bulb efficiency law takes effect it appears that the fluorescent light in your bathroom and kitchen would not be legal.  Not 100% sure about that.

  Keen in mind that CFL bulbs are just fluorescent lights except short and curly in shape and they screw in instead of snapping in.  So if you got a problem with CFL light bulbs you should have a problem with all fluorescent lights.  

  Republicans worrying about mercury now?   That is odd… Since President Bush and Republicans exempted power plants from mercury emissions regulations!
 
  I get so tired of the Republican bring up issues like this…  It is just an attempt to scare people. 

  I have seen headlines that the GOP repeal of the light bulb efficiency law will cost consumers $12 billion dollars.  I am not sure how they come up with that number.  My guess it is for the extra amount of power we will use if we are not using CFL bulbs.
  I have been using CFL bulbs since they came out.  I use CFL bulbs here for everything except in the kitchen which has a fluorescent fixture. 

  The CFL bulbs that I have use about 16 watts of power each.  They replace 60, 75 or 100 watt incandescent bulbs.