The House of Representatives have passed a provision that prevents the ban being implemented following the failure of the Better Use of Light Bulbs act vote earlier this week through a procedural device requiring a two thirds majority. Representative Michael Burgess, another Texan republican, proposed an amendment to the 2012 Water Appropriations Act that was passed on a voice vote. This effectively stops the bulb ban by preventing any government money being spent to implement it. This very effective action kills the ban in 2012 but will have to be renewed annually. For now it gives more time to allow a better long term political move to kill the original legislation.
This political chicanery is sadly not to do with the awfulness of the compact fluorescent lamp or even the desirability of light created from incandescent sources. This is about freedom of choice enshrined in the USA constitution. It is therefore unsurprising that the battle is being fought by Texan politicians, fiercely defending rights of self determination.
Kevan Shaw 15 July 20
the amended HR 2354 Bill still has to pass in the Senate
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-2354
– but the amendment may be a good “coup” since the Senate Democrats want the money in the Bill for energy and water resource subsidies…
Yes that kind of stick-on-amending goes on all the time
but always nice when it works in one’s favour…