Beam me to Planet Gore !
Posted on 06/23/2008 8:25:30 AM PDT by Turret Gunner A20
WASHINGTON – Members of Congress are beginning to have second thoughts about the ban on incandescent light bulbs effective in 2014 as a result of an energy bill signed into law earlier this year. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, says his objection is very basic – the Constitution doesn’t authorize Congress to do anything remotely like banning a product that has been used safely and efficiently for more than 100 years in favor of Chinese-imported compact fluorescent light bulbs that pose considerable health and safety risks.
Extensive cleanup is required by the Environmental Protection Agency for simply breaking a bulb. When a bulb, which contains mercury, is broken, according to the EPA, the room must be evacuated for 15 minutes and aired out with windows, but not before all glass is removed, placed in a sealed glass jar and disposed of outside. Any remaining glass must be picked up with tape. In addition, central heating or air conditioning units must be turned off.
Wait… Environmental Protection Agency must be called for a broken bulb?
(Excerpt) Read more at sayanythingblog.com ...
The fear that it might one day be required doesn’t justify claiming it is required today.
I agree.
Where did I claim it's required today?
That was the reason for my first post. The article above said it was required.
In fact, I doubt there would be a majority on this board who would allow people to grow Marijuana in their own back yards and smoke it. But if congress can ban that, they certainly can ban you from using incandescent light bulbs.
That's a good point. If we misuse Constitutional powers for "good" ends, then we allow others to misuse those same powers for "bad" ends.
We'd be better off with a more originalist approach to Congressional commerce power- across the board.
In addition to your argument take into account that the EPA can and has inserted itself into the inspection and sale of homes. Got mold? May as well tear it down and rebuild for all it will cost you. With the bulbs all they have to do is mandate a sweep of the home that is for sale for even minute quantities of mercury. Detect it and suddenly you are now liable for time consuming and expensive cleanup and reinspection before you can sell. Then again, you can probably become rich by starting a company that specializes in inspecting and cleaning up micro quantities of mercury from the new bulbs by gouging the desparate home sellers.
I suggest that readers respond with a list of legislation the Congress has enacted that the Constitution does not empower them to enact.
Where in the Constitution is the “herein granted” power enumerated?
Article 1, Section 1 - All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
The Constitution’s words clearly state that if it does not specifically say Congress has the enumerated power to do it, then Congress can’t do it.
George The Pinhead Bush agreed with it several months ago; therefore, don’t blame it entirely on Algore & Co.
No kiddin !
1933.
I think it was about this January (not before).
My sister was visiting us from the U.S.A., and it was from that timeframe. I remember being so angry at Bush I was jumping up and down from pure unadulterated anger.
Where do I sign up? The time is now.
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