UPDATE 2: 12/16/11 9AMPST It appears early reports were wrong, junkscience.com now reports that
The deal agreed to in Congress merely deprives the Department oF Energy the funds to enforce the ban for 2012. The ban is still on the books — so the DOE may very well get the money next year or the year after or who knows when.
Original post follows:
Blogging this from my cellphone.
Reports coming in from my sources say it was suspended tonight, more later.
UPDATE: from Politico –
The shutdown-averting budget bill will block federal light bulb efficiency standards, giving a win to House Republicans fighting the so-called ban on incandescent light bulbs.
GOP and Democratic sources tell POLITICO the final omnibus bill includes a rider defunding the Energy Department’s standards for traditional incandescent light bulbs to be 30 percent more energy efficient.
From The Hill –
Omnibus spending legislation greenlighted by House and Senate negotiators Thursday night blocks Energy Department light bulb efficiency standards that have come under fire from conservatives in recent months.
The legislation, which would avert a government shutdown, prevents funding from being used for the implementation of certain Energy Department light bulb standards. The standards would begin phasing in next year.
h/t to Steve Milloy at junkscience.com
I hope this report is correct. It would help to renew my faith in the rationality of the U.S. government if true.
You mean an[incadescent] light went on in Cogress?
That’s great. Unfortunately, the law of unintended consequences holds true. They might repeal it but only after they caused the destruction of the U.S. lightbulb industry.
Neither chamber is in session tonight?
Thomas Edison thanks the few remaining sane members of Congress for realizing how stupid this ban would be.
I thank members of congress because the fluorescent bulbs are toxic, cold and depressing. Incandescent lightbulbs are warm, beautiful very bright!
US government slowly pointing the gun away from its head. As others have pointed out, the scam is coming apart at just the right speed to allow politicians to get out of a burning building while it is safe to do so.
This would not surprise me, but the Senate ratifying it and Obama signing it will be progressively harder obstacles.
Does this mean all my hoarding was for nothing?!
Nah, I live in CA…they’ll figure out a way to deprive me of my incandescents one way or another.
Can the Congress of the United States do that? The way I understand it, once a bill is signed by the President it would take an act by the Judicial branch, or a superseding bill, also needing the President’s signature, to overturn it.
Obama’s corporate pal GE has already closed its last light-bulb factory in the US.
Boy I hope so and I hope fool in White House doesn’t veto it.
My government claims that by law (backed by force) that we can chose to join the Marines during wartime, but we aren’t “smart” enough to chose a lightbulb or a toilet.
We can even choose (again backed bt law and force) to end the lives of our progeny.
I have seen and heard enough in my short 50 years, that it’s hard to celebrate this “return” to what I see as a 92% insanity-level, down from short stint at 98%.
I have become jaded to the point of curmudgeon, and I still want them all to be sent to the South Pole for 10 years.
Papiertige. Congress can repeal any law it wants, and if the President signs it the appeal is law just like any other law. Often congress add these thing to laws that the President would be nuts to veto.
I meant if the President signs the repeal not appeal.
Figures. I bought forty 100 W light bulbs today…
If true, then we’ll be able to import ’em from … China.
NetRightDaily’s got it: http://netrightdaily.com/2011/07/light-bulb-ban-repealed-in-the-house/
The votes were there but there was a procedural problem preventing the passing.
http://poorrichardsnews.com/post/7558082923/house-vote-to-overturn-incandescent-light-bulb-ban
Omnibus spending legislation greenlighted by House and Senate negotiators Thursday night blocks Energy Department light bulb efficiency standards that have come under fire from conservatives in recent months.
from
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199851-spending-deal-blocks-light-bulb-efficiency-standards
watch heads explode in 5….4….3…
It was a stupid idea and it’s unenforceable. Everyone I know has loaded up on incandescent bulbs to last the rest of their lives. They are cheap and are still available and plentiful.
Why import the mercury laden horrid twisty bulbs from China when we can make out own lovely warm little bulbs right here in North America.
Now if only I could get toilet that I don’t have to flush two or three times to get a fresh bowl of water. That was a stupid idea too.
individual11 says: “That’s great. Unfortunately, the law of unintended consequences holds true. They might repeal it but only after they caused the destruction of the U.S. lightbulb industry.:”
Who says that was unintended?
Well well well what a great way to stimulate the economy. Let the green dragon close all your light bulb plants and fire all the employees and then reverse the decision and have to buy all your incandescent and neon bulbs from China. Gosh you Americans are smart. From the comments you obviously didn’t get to the stage with neon of warm dimable lights which cost 20 times an incandescaent bulb like we have. God preserve us from the green revolution before we are all living like the third world.
Assuming the Politico and The Hill reports are correct (most likely), the tenative agreement for funding the federal government in 2012 bans spending money for enforcement of the ban in 2012. The ban is still law, however. Ban opponents either have to get a full repeal or a ban on spanding enforcement money enacted every single year. So — assuming supplies are available — anyone who likes these bulbs would do well to stockpile if he has not done so already. Failing additional Congressional action, the law will be enforced 1/1/13, and at that point, both the 100 and 75 watt standard incandescents will be banned.
I blogged about this a bit at http://tiny.cc/4cbrt
Here is a link to an article about this from The Hill:
Omnibus spending deal blocks funding for light bulb efficiency standards.
Omnibus spending legislation greenlighted by House and Senate negotiators Thursday night blocks Energy Department light bulb efficiency standards that have come under fire from conservatives in recent months.
The legislation, which would avert a government shutdown, prevents funding from being used for the implementation of certain Energy Department light bulb standards. The standards would begin phasing in next year.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199851-spending-deal-blocks-light-bulb-efficiency-standards
Politico headline.
Spending bill blocks light bulb standards
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70534.html