Knucklehead Lawmakers Delay Light Bulb Law Enforcement

The knuckleheads in Washington are at it again. This time a deal was made last week as part of a massive spending deal to delay enforcement of the phase-out of 100-watt incandescents. A law was supposed to go into effect on January 1 that would ensure enforcement of the law originally signed in 2007 by President George W. Bush. What planet are some of these lawmakers living on? Ignoring the fact that millions of thrifty Americans--and most businesses in our industry--have already embraced incandescent alternatives, lawmakers delayed enforcement of the light bulb law until at least next fall. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, called the light-bulb provision "an early Christmas present for all Americans" and said it strikes a blow against expensive fluorescents that he said are not as reliable as the old-style incandescents.

Where exactly is Mr. Barton shopping? Compact fluorescents (CFLs) are certainly not expensive where I live. "This means Americans can continue to flip the switch on an affordable and reliable product, instead of turning to one that costs five times more and may not live up to manufacturers' promises," said Barton. Again, where is this guy shopping and has he really looked into the quality of CFLs on the market today? What will this guy do when inexpensive, quality LEDs hit the market?

A group representing light bulb manufacturers spoke out against the delay, which applies only to 100-watt bulbs. Tighter standards for 75-watt bulbs take effect in 2013, and lower wattage bulbs must be more efficient by 2014. "American manufacturers have invested millions of dollars in energy-efficient light bulbs," said Joseph Higbee, a spokesman for the National Electric Manufacturers Association, which represents 95 percent U.S. light bulb makers. Delaying enforcement of the standards "undermines those investments and creates regulatory uncertainty and consumer confusion," he said, adding that a lack of federal enforcement "allows bad actors to sell noncompliant products" to consumers who may be unable to tell the difference between an energy-efficient bulb and one that isn't.

Don't our lawmakers have something better to do with their time than delay implementation of a technology that is not only already here but on the verge of being replaced by LEDs? Some knuckleheads just don't get it, do they?