Posted on 06/13/2011 3:09:27 PM PDT by radioone
Late last year, Republican Congressman Fred Upton, who co-sponsored the infamous ban on the current generation of inexpensive incandescent light bulbs included in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, was desperate to secure conservative support for his bid to become Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, the same committee in which he had introduced the despised ban three years earlier. He therefore promised that one of his first acts would be to advance legislation that would repeal the very light bulb ban he had once championed.
Upton’s ploy succeeded, and in January of this year, Speaker of the House John Boehner named Upton to his treasured chairmanship. More than four months later, Upton has not held the promised hearings. Several dozen members of the House, including Joe Barton, Michele Bachmann, and Thad McCotter, have co-sponsored legislation to repeal the ban, so there’s plenty of support for it among true conservatives. And since the ban on the current generation of 100 watt incandescent bulbs is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2012, prompt action is required. There are only six and a half months left!
Journalist Virginia Postrel recently wrote that the Republican leadership in the House has no intention of actually repealing the incandescent light bulb ban, and I’m inclined to agree. It’s a different matter in the Senate, where the Republicans are in the minority. The Senate held hearings back in March, but despite a few rumors to the contrary, there’s no indication that the House, where Congressman Upton controls the path, will hold hearings.
That this ban is an egregious violation of free market capitalism is beyond dispute.
Howard Brandston, the internationally recognized lighting expert who wrote a companion e-book on this topic, The Disastrous Light Bulb Ban, was not invited to testify before the Energy and Commerce Committee when it passed this ridiculous ban back in 2007. In fact, no one who opposed the ban was asked to testify. The Senate wisely corrected this error when it invited Mr. Brandston to do so when it held hearings in March of this year.
I’ve informed the legal counsel to the Energy and Power Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that Mr. Brandston is available to testify when and if it holds hearings on repealing the ban. It should surprise no one that I’ve not heard back.
Congressman Upton and his staff are betting that the Tea Party movement won’t generate enough political heat to force him to honor his promise. In doing so, he reveals himself as a man to whom the principles of free markets and limited government mean very little. It’s a quality that the Tea Party movement is certain to remember when he is once again challenged in the Republican Primary in 2012.
It is this sort of inanity that reminds me to pick up a copy of P. J. O’Rourke’s book, “Don’t Vote It Just Encourages the Bastards” before my next flight.
It is sickening to the tenth power.
LLS
Upton also has a facebook page where he can be reached.
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