Beam me to Planet Gore !
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.
LLS
(202) 225-3761 -— Upton’s office
(202)-225-6205 —— Boehner’s office,
let’s light up the lines, people
Blame also goes to Boehner who lacks both balls and brains.
You’re right about the GOP bait and switch game they play every two years around election time.
He was my congressman for many years and I kept saying he should never be Speaker. He’s not too bright and he’ll say whatever needs to be said to keep the votes coming.
For tomorrow bump! Thanks! ;-)
This is an incomplete statement I hear time and time again, and I have a need to clarify something for those who want to stock up: Sales of the 100 Watt bulb are indeed illegal after next January 1, but what most folks aren't getting is they've been illegal to manufacture since last January 1. If you don't stock up right away, they'll be gone by December.
Sellers are limited to stock on hand TODAY!! No restocking is happening at the wholesale level!
Congressman Fred Upton
BAILOUTS
•Voted YES for TARP
•Voted YES on the auto bailout
•Voted YES on Cash for Clunkers
SPENDING
•Voted YES four times to extend unemployment benefits
•Voted NO to cut NEA spending
•Voted NO to cut AMTRAK spending
•Voted YES to increase funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
REGULATIONS
•Voted YES to increase the minimum wage
•Voted NO to waive Davis-Bacon
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/11/09/just-say-no-to-fred-upton/
I was criticized on another thread when I said that Boehner was and is partly responsible for Fred Upton’s violation of his promise to repeal the light bulb ban.
I’m sorry, but Boehner made a big mistake when he appointed the guy who CO-SPONSORED the ban as chairman of the committee. Not because he was qualified, not because he represents Republican or conservative values, but simply because IT WAS HIS TURN.
And now Boehner is making another big mistake by not disciplining Fred Upton or even speaking out about this miserable behavior.
That’s all we need—a leftist, global-warming jerk in charge of our congressional energy policy. Boehner put him there, and Boehner is responsible for keeping him there and failing to exert any pressure to make him do his job.
I did agree last fall that we should wait and see how this plays out. Well, it’s playing out extremely badly. These guys are RINO losers. And I’m not being an unrealistic purist when I say that. Because this ban is unpopular with the voters as well as stupid and counterproductive.
I can only suspect that Boehner and Upton are being paid off by General Electric for letting them make those compact flourescents in China.
I also happen to be a CF user. But that’s from choice, to save money on my electric bill, not because some jerk in Washington wants to force me to.
I believe that RINO’s, the alleged “Moderate Republicans” are all as much a part of the course towards a NWO as the Socialist/Democrats, and wouldn’t trust a damned one of them anymore than I would the Democrats.
They lie. They obfuscate. They will go to exteremes to do what they have to to stall the pitchforks, the tar, the feathers to advance their NWO goal.
It is my opinion that Dems, and RINO’s are comrades in purpose.
LLS
GOP voters have been betrayed over and over and over again. The situation is so dire, we can't afford that anymore. The House GOP has become the do-nothing-except-stupid-deals-with-Obama party. My message to the elected GOP. Going through life, fat, drunk and stupid is no way to live as a political party.
These House GOP are playing with fire. How stupid can they be? It's absolutely amazing how stupid, out of touch, insane they are. What do they think is happening in this country.
We've got to pick the RINO's and primary their butts. Get them out before they can do anymore damage. Send them back to their country clubs.
Sounds like Upton is a Leftwingtard.
One meaningful division applicable to 2011 is between the lying, foul and corrupt; compared to the relatively clean-a distinct minority. Where the congress creature forming the subject of the article fits in the scale is manifest.
Michelle Bachman should have run for Speaker of the House instead of President.
They all need a little more time to sell off their stock in the companies that produce the CFL’s. Then watch out.
That fool
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