Warner Illuminates Light Bulb Debate
The former senator provided perspective as Republicans tried to repeal light bulb regulations.
Former Sen. John Warner stepped back into the political spotlight last week to defend light bulb regulations he helped pass. Alas, the current Republican leaders in Congress lack his common sense and willingness to compromise.
The light bulb regulations passed with broad bipartisan support as part of a 2007 energy bill. President George W. Bush signed it.
Since then, the rules have drawn conservatives’ ire, and many former supporters in Congress have flip-flopped. They portray the changes as a ban, a government conspiracy to force all Americans to use dangerous, mercury-laden light bulbs that no one likes.
The truth is something else entirely. Starting next year, old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs will not be banned. They simply must be 30 percent more efficient.
How terrible that America should implement policies to reduce the demand for energy nationwide. No doubt incandescent light bulbs will become more expensive as they comply, but that will only make compact fluorescent bulbs and LEDs more attractive. Those alternatives cost more up front, but consumers save money in the long run by using less electricity.
Less electricity consumed nationwide will mean less pollution from power plants. Those who fret about mercury in compact fluorescents conveniently fail to mention that coal-fueled power plants emit far more mercury into the air.
Some people do find the newer light bulb technologies less appealing, but if they have not tried them recently, they should. Technology and performance improved vastly in the past few years.
None of that appeases Republicans, especially the tea partiers who most fervently subscribe to the light bulb conspiracy theories. The GOP-controlled House yesterday found majority support to repeal the efficiency regulations, but they came up short of the two-thirds majority needed for passage.
Roanoke County Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte voted for repeal. Salem’s Rep. Morgan Griffith was one of 10 Republicans who voted against the bill. He actually supports repeal but had concerns about states’ rights.
Warner, who had remained mostly out of politics since his retirement from the Senate, might have swayed a few votes. He feared losing momentum even if the light bulb regulations were but a small step toward greater energy efficiency.
Welcome back to the show, Sen. Warner. Virginia has missed your informed leadership.
Recent Comments
not sure what “broad bipartisan support” Warner is referring to. IIRC the public was not really in favor of this and has more information has come out about CFLs the public realizes that they got screwed. this bill was passed back when the powers that be were heavy into AGW, now they realize it was a bunch of bunk.
this bill is one reason why I no longer call myself a Republican, but only refer to myself as a conservative. This was a self-serving bill for the folks at GE who couldn’t compete against cheaper foreign incandescent bulbs and who had bet the farm on CFLs and they only way that CFLs would work is if incandescents were “banned”. True the law doesn’t technically “ban” them, but considered the requirements placed upon them it effectively does ban them