The Great 2014 Turn-Off: U.S. Light Bulbs
“Feds can’t make up minds on mercury bulbs, ban outdoor lights while mandating use indoors. In what critics call a classic case of the government working at cross purposes, Washington is forcing residents across the country to install mercury lighting inside their homes while phasing out mercury lighting outside homes to protect the environment. In 2005, Congress passed a law banning mercury vapor streetlights – two years before it banned incandescent light bulbs in favor of mercury vapor compact florescent bulbs.” – WorldNetDaily, July 22, 2011
The 2007 Energy Act banned the manufacture and sale of Edison light bulbs by 2014. Also in 2007, General Electric announced plans to produce by 2010 an energy-efficient new generation incandescent bulb. Since that never materialized, 100-watt bulbs are scheduled for phase-out in 2012. Unless the 2007 law is repealed or a “new generation” of incandescent bulbs is invented to satisfy environmentalists, manufacture and sale of Edison 75-, 60- and 40-watt bulbs will end by 2014. Their replacement is a made-in-China dimmer fluorescent bulb containing mercury. Breakage is so dangerous HAZMAT has strict clean-up guidelines to reduce health hazards.
H.R. 2417, introduced in Congress July 6th to repeal the 2007 federal incandescent bulb ban, was put on a fast track, had no hearing and was rushed onto the House floor. That violation of procedure triggered a super majority vote rule, resulting in a 233 – 193 party-line defeat July 12th, when ten Republicans voted AGAINST it and only five Democrats voted FOR it.
H.R. 2417 co-sponsor Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) explained why the ban should be repealed: “It’s just another government intrusion in our lives. I think people are just increasingly aggravated that the government is telling us what kind of toilets we have, what kind of light bulbs we have, what kind of health insurance, so I think it is just coming to a boil outside.”
Georgia’s S.B. 61, introduced by Senator Barry Loudermilk, cited the U.S. Constitution Tenth Amendment, Ninth Amendment and Article I, Section 8 as authorization for states to counteract federal law. His bill would authorize the manufacture and sale of incandescent light bulbs within Georgia, but they could not be exported to another state. S.B. 61 passed the Georgia Senate on March 7th and is in the House Science and Technology Committee for action in 2012.
Situation Summary. (a) A new incandescent bulb bill may be introduced any time in Congress. (b) Georgia’s S.B. 61 remains alive for the 2012 session. (c) If a good bulb bill fails to pass by 2014, (d) China’s economy will be enriched, (e) as factories close and jobs vanish in the U.S.
ACTION – Support American-made light bulb legislation. Contact state and federal officials as follows:
1. Federal H.R. 2417. Congressmen by districts: 1. Kingston, 202 225-5831, fax 912 352-0105; 2. Bishop, 202 225-3631, fax 229 436-2099; 3. Westmoreland, 202 225-5901, fax 770 683-2042; 4. Johnson, 202 225-1605, fax 770 987-8721; 5. Lewis, 202 225-3801, fax 404 331-0947; 6. Price, 202 225-4501, fax 770 565-7570; 7. Woodall, 202 225-4272, fax 770 232-2909; 8. Marshall, 202 225-6531, 478 464-0277; 9. Graves, 202 225-5211, fax 770 335-2765; 10. Broun, 202 225-4101, fax 706 868-8756; 11. Gingrey, 202 225-2931, fax 678 721-7995; 12. Barrow, 202 225-2823, fax 706 722-4496; 13. Scott, 202 225-2939, fax 770 210-5673 (Georgia fax numbers)
2. Georgia Legislation S.B. 61. Contact Science and Technology Committee Representatives Amerson, Ch., 404 657-8443; Battles, V-Ch., 404 656-0152; Byrd, Sec., 404 656-0298; Dudgeon, 404 656-0298; Kidd, 404 656-0202; C. Martin, 404 656-5064; Reece-Massey, 404 656-7859; Oliver, 404 656-0265; S. Scott, 404 656-0314; and Watson, 404 656-0109.
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