Issue: H.R. 2417 Better Use of Light Bulbs Act. Question: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass (2/3 vote required).
Result: Failed, 233 to 193, 1 present, 4 not voting. Democrats scored.
Bill Summary: Repeals light bulb efficiency standards enacted four years earlier in H.R. 6, The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (House Roll Call Roll 1177).
Analysis: Absent repeal, the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act forces the marketplace to phase out the traditional incandescent Edison light bulb in favor of more expensive (but more energy efficient) compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) (containing mercury).
The 2007 legislation should never have been enacted in the first place. The legislation is replete with unconstitutional federal micromanagement of domestic life — using the “green” dogma as the pretext for an incredibly intrusive power grab. Note that this bipartisan legislation was signed into law by the “conservative” President George W. Bush.
Four years later, the GOP effort at repeal of a small, highly visible portion of the intrusion on personal freedom was pure Republican posturing. It was brought up under rules that required a 2/3 majority to pass. And so the bill failed 233:193. Moreover, even if it had passed the House it had no future in the Democrat-controlled Senate or on President Obama’s desk.
However, the duplicity is much worse. In 2007, 95 Republicans joined 219 Democrats to saddle America with the unconstitutional intrusion. Four years later, more than half of those 95 Republicans would vote for repeal when it didn’t count!
Nevertheless, we applaud those 5 Democrats who voted for repeal, against the position of their party leadership.
We have assigned (good vote) to the Yeas and (bad vote) to the Nays. (P = voted present; ? = not voting; blank = not listed on roll call.)
We suspect that most Americans have little comprehension of the size and scope of the bureaucracy that has grown up to administer the federal government’s steady unconstitutional usurpation of state authority and personal freedom. Consider this excerpt from the CRS Summary of the massive 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (H.R. 6):
Title III: Energy Savings Through Improved Standards for Appliance and Lighting – Subtitle A: Appliance Energy Efficiency
(Sec. 306) Sets forth requirements for regional and base national standards for furnaces (except boilers), central air conditioners, and heat pumps.
(Sec. 308) Prescribes requirements for expedited rulemaking to establish an energy or water conservation standard.
(Sec. 309) Prescribes requirements for final rules prescribing energy conservation standards for battery chargers, or a determination that no energy conservation standard is technically feasible and economically justified.
Title XIV: Pool and Spa Safety – Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act – (Sec. 1404) Treats the requirements of this Act as a consumer product safety rule issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission) under the Consumer Product Safety Act.
Requires each swimming pool or spa drain cover manufactured, distributed, or entered into commerce in the United States to conform to specified entrapment protection standards, or any successor standard regulating such swimming pool or drain cover.
(Sec. 1405) Directs the Commission to establish a state swimming pool safety grant program. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2010.
(Sec. 1406) Sets forth minimum state law requirements a state must meet to be eligible for a grant.