Bachman Is Pro-Choice On Bulbs

Star Tribune ^ | March 26, 2008 | Kevin Diaz

[JavaJumpy]

Washington - How many members of Congress does it take to change a light bulb? Americans may soon find out, courtesy of a contrarian piece of legislation introduced this month by Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota.

Titled the "Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act", the bill seeks to repeal the nationwide phase-out of conventional light bulbs, the kind that have been used for more than a century--pretty much since the invention of the incandescent light bulb.

Bachmann, a first-term Republican, is challenging the nation's embrace of energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights, saying the government has no business telling consumers what kind of light bulbs they can buy.

"This is an issue of science over fads and fashions," Bachmann said in an interview Tuesday.

"Congress tends to jump on whatever the current buzz is in the 24-hour news cycle," Bachmann said.

Her bill, the first of its kind, raises safety questions about the small amounts of mercury in fluorescent lights. It also lands her squarely in the middle of the debate over global warming. In recent remarks to a gathering of Sherburne County Republicans--reported in the West Shurburne Tribune--Bachmann called any human connection to global warming "voodoo, nonsense, hokum, a hoax."

[JavaJumpy]

Has it come to this? I mean - really?

[lesser_satan]

I love you, Michelle.

[JavaJumpy]

Ooops, my apologies for the typo of her name in the title. Correct spelling - Bachmann.

[acapesket]

Ya gotta go to the comments section!
These people could not even graduate from “Story Time” at the local Public Library!

[steelyourfaith]

From the link:

"The mercury content of fluorescent light bulbs has long been a concern of federal and state regulators. Minnesota is one of a handful of states that ban the disposal of fluorescent lights as general waste, and Xcel Energy, the state's biggest utility, actively reimburses many customers for recycling them.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) outline a series of steps that homeowners should take to clean up broken fluorescent lights: Open windows, use rubber gloves, dispose of all material in sealed bags and remove it to a hazardous waste facility."

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[Need4Truth]

Much of the article is talking about mercury. What about the lose of freedom? Or another central planning failure?

Have the idiots in Washington thought through all the problems this light bulb law is going to cause?

(e.g. what do you do with a built-in 4 inch recessed lighting fixture when you can’t get the small incandescent spot light bulb?)

The “bitter” pions out here in fly-over country aren’t so dumb that we can’t figure out what kind of light bulbs we want to use. sheesh.

[Sir_Ed]

Behind every liberal is a fascist, waiting to get out...

They accuse US of being tyrannical authoritarians, but liberals seek FAR more control of our lives than conservatives do.

The editor of PC Magazine two months ago said that America may need to CONTROL PEOPLE’S THERMOSTATS and make it illegal to heat our houses above 68 degrees or cool them down below 78 degrees.

Sig heil, Meine Green-Fhuerer!

Ed