That flickering light of freedom down in Texas emanates from an incandescent light bulb.
Edison’s brilliant invention will soon go dark in the U.S., essentially prohibited by federal law. Beginning next year, the feds will force Americans to begin abandoning the old standard light bulbs in favor of compact florescent bulbs filled with mercury, or other more expensive lighting.
But not in Texas.
Last week, Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill that will allow for the intrastate manufacture and sale of incandescent light bulbs in the Lone Star State.
HB 2501 rests on the Ninth and Tenth Amendments, affirming that the authority to regulate intrastate commerce remains with the states.
Therefore:
The Legislature of the State of Texas declares that an incandescent light bulb manufactured in Texas, as described by Chapter 2004, Business & Commerce Code, as added by this Act, that remains within the borders of Texas:
(1) has not traveled in interstate commerce; and
(2) is not subject to federal law or federal regulation, under the authority of the United States Congress to regulate interstate commerce.
The bill enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support, passing 142-3 in the House and 31-0 in the Senate.
The law, which will go into effect Jan. 12, 2012, stipulates that the incandescent light bulbs made and sold in Texas must have “Made in Texas” clearly stamped on them.
Rep. George Lavender (R-Texarkana) authored the bill.
“The ‘new and improved’ compact fluorescent light bulbs don’t work as promised, are significantly more expensive, as are the LEDs, and have environmental and disposal problems due to the mercury they contain,” he said in a statement.
The federal regulations, rooted in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, don’t ban incandescent bulbs outright, but create tough new standards requiring efficiency increases beginning with 100 watt bulbs in 2012, and then phasing in requirements for other wattages over the next two years. Traditional bulbs simply don’t measure up. But there are bulbs excepted by the law, including three-way bulbs and specialty bulbs. Alternatives also exist, including the hated compact fluorescents and halogen bulbs (at about twice the cost).
But for many Americans, the issue isn’t about money, mercury or ugly curly-q lights. It has more to do with the freedom to choose and what they view as more intrusion into their lives by the federal government.
Texas Congressman Joe Barton (R) wants to repeal the 2007 act.
“People don’t want the government dictating the lighting they can use,” he said. “Traditional incandescent bulbs have been brightening the night since Thomas Edison created the first one in 1879. They are safe, cheap and reliable.”
But solutions don’t have to flow down from D.C. Even without a repeal of federal law, Texans will have a choice, because state lawmakers asserted their rights to control intrastate commerce within the borders of their state.
“This is a victory for state sovereignty,” Tenth Amendment Center communications director Mike Maharrey said. “The federal government has no authority to determine what type of light bulbs Texans choose to manufacture and sell within their borders. More states should follow Texas’ lead, not just with lighting, but every product imaginable. It’s high time the states and the people took back the decision making power they rightfully possess.”
For information on other intrastate commerce legislation and to track bills, click here.
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Updates and links on 6 other US states Light bulb freedom bills:
http://freedomlightbulb.blogspot.com/
@PantaRei 9 states with repeal light bulb ban bills, ( latest Virginia Dec 2011, Missouri Jan 2012 ) http://ceolas.net/#bills
Before I started my own business I didn't think something like finding light bulbs would be important. However, now with rising energy costs I did my homework and shopped around and found that http://www.bulbamerica.com/light-bulbs/fluorescen... provides a great selection. I'd definitely recommend this site to find the right bulbs.
The Grand Old Party is fear mongering & lying again.
The new & improved incandescent bulbs are on the market & are called Halogen. They cost about $2 per bulb currently, but that will continue to fall. They last 3x longer, are 25% more efficient, & put out even better quality light than the old incandescent light bulbs. (http://www.amazon.com/78795-29-Watt-Halogen-General-Purpose/dp/B004HICT46)
If you'd like to learn more about the legislation that the Republicans have introduced to nullify the new efficient light bulb laws, read here: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/06/26/us-lightbul...
MING. You have it just slightly backwards. GB was no Reagan by any stretch. He wrote check after check after check, tilted OSHA a little more against the worker and reacted too slowly and incorrectly when the crash began.
Obama in comparison is now at the point in his administration where the current situation is clearly his responsibility. To still be believing, supporting and defending Obama and his first Congress, along with your wholly ludicrous statement defines you as someone incapable of independant thought as at this point, your comment cannot be even remotely, factually supported.
There are no white hats in Congress as they all play politics when it benefits them. To believe one side is angelic and the other demonic is idiocy.
FACTS! OBAMA is the single most accomplished liar in American political history.
OBAMA is responsible for the TEN PERCENT unemployment.
OBAMA is responsible for the FIFTEEN TRILLION DOLLARS in debt
OBAMA is responsible for NOT ending IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN LIKE HE PROMISED.
OBAMA is responsible for TWO MORE WARS!!
It IS the DEMOCRATS that are preventing AMERICANS in South Carolina from getting jobs.
It IS the DEMOCRATS that are the reason, primarily, that so many states like MI, IL, WI,NJ, CA etc are upside down in their pension funding, infrastructure decline and deep in debt.
Bush was no great president in any rational persons mind. Obama is the nightmare of nightmares.
If you truly understood how this country came to be, how and why it was designed in the manner it was and if you knew your world history you would understand how truly ridiculous your statement and the others like it are.
Don't feel too bad. There are those on the other side that can only repeat regurgitated bilge just as you do also.
Congrats Texas for this decision. An intelligent measure protecting the environment and our health from mercury. All states should follow suit.
While you are at it, why not opt out of the Fed and create Texas State Bank, and prosper?!
Thank you Texas. We go at least once a year so now we can make a 'bulb run' for all of our less fortunate friends! God Bless Texas!
Agree with Texans 100 per cent. Hope Louisiana will follow suit, so I, too, can stop hoarding bulbs
I'm just worried about the plentiful broken mercury landfill lightbulbs in my homestate of Minnesota as we are stupidly and carelessly stuck with the poisonous bulbs!...
NANNY STATE , but a careless one!
Hope we follow TEXAS soon, before we get polluted with more unwanted mercury in the dumpsters!
BUt the law concerning the light bulbs was passed in 2007, who was president then and didn't he have veto powers? I'll give you a hint his initials are George Bush and yes he did. So yet again you necks dont bother to check out facts, you just jump up and down, scream and yell then deny deny deny the facts. The light bulb stuff is like wanting to keep the tube television and reject the LCD.
After reading some of the comments, its so easy to see whats wrong with the country. Most people don't understand the concept of FREEDOM.
Right on John! The kool-aid drinking imbeciles here just don't get it! I'm a believer in retroactive abortion. Does that make me a liberal too?
And all the refineries in texas aren't an enviromental problem?! RepubliKKKans will do anything to destroy this country.
Great, we get to keep the incandescent light bulb but our men, women and children must submit to sexual assault at our airports.
GOOD on Texas.
Those wee funny lamps have their own problems,
They are proving to produce medical side effects.
They do burn cooler and hence the need for their lack of heat will have to be made up by turning up the thermostat, meaning an overall increase in energy use.
Up north we have buildings which never switch off their lights , simply because doing so in the winter means Firing-up another boiler.
Incidently Edison did not REPEAT did not invent the light bulb. It was demonstrated in Scotland 35 years before he started to experiment with different types of fillament.
Thats what made his shop unique he had the money to develope other peoples inventions.
Light bulbs, really?... Thats what steams you Texan's?
Ever heard of economy problems, unemployment, health care..or other REAL problems?
Naw, you Texan's need you sum light bulbs NOW!
None of that little curly crap either!..
Boy, you people take the cake. You're grasp on the U.S. situation is stunningly stupid.
I mann, you miss the point. It's about freedom of choice. Sure we have a ton of problems, and the Texas congress is trying to take care of this particular one. I'll take my small victories when I can get 'em. For one, the new compact flourescent bulbs are more expensive. They also contain mercury, creating a new environmental hazard and disposal problems that we don't have with standard bulbs. In addition, these great new "green" compact fluorescent bulbs emit an electromagnetic frequency that has been shown in lab experiments to be harmful to humans and animals. Do you want your family to be exposed to that? If you truly believe that the federal government has the rightful authority to dictate what type of lighting you are allowed to use in your own home, then you'll let them do anything to you, which they will if they get their way. You should thank Texas for trying to protect its people. I applaud the Texas House and Senate for standing up to govt oppression and bureaucracy. Educate yourself and wake yourself up, help us all reverse the path that humanity's leaders want to take us down.
It is no wonder why the rest of America think that Texas is the most Bat-shit crazy state to ever exist.
B_Brad:
As the rest of "your" country sinks in a quagmire of destitution largely created through basically illegal and highly foolish micromanagement by the utterly corrupt and incompetent federal government, be sure and note that despite the deep depression and problems we as a nation face, Texas is ascendant.
The "whys" can be summed up very simply: Texas is still - in many ways - independent. This is why (for example) we have our own separate power grid (only state in the nation to do so), lead the nation in computer and technology research (the Austin region has been the new silicon valley for over a decade now) and unsurprisingly - total over half of all job creation in America today.
If you want to join the ship of fools sailing the loser voyage, looking for the federal government to dole out peace, comfort and happiness - follow their lead, almost anywhere in the U.S. - you will certainly get what you deserve; if on the other hand, you believe in and practice good old American values like personal independence, self determinism, personal responsibility, doing things yourself and have a well earned disdain for the destruction engendered from Washington throughout this once greatest of all countries - then come to Texas. This isn't to say that this is lacking in all the other states: rather, the mindset (on a large and public scale) to put these principles into effective action still exists here. If this mindset ever dies in Texas, one can be sure wherever they live, that their liberties - and indeed the good old U.S.A. have truly died as well.
If common sense, personal responsibility and the expectation of the rights to earn and control your own destiny is - as you say - "crazy".... give me more! The proof of just how "crazy" Texas is is with the undeniable, massive successes evident for all to see at every level of technology and culture.... while people like you B_Brad, simply throw simplistic aphorisms about with the intelligence of a typical 3rd grader. Good luck in your less "Bat-shit crazy state" - you are going to really need it when the excrement truly hits the rotary oscillator for the nation.
Rob in (obviously) Texas
Texans don't really give a rat's arse what you hand-wringing liberals in those nanny states think while talking to your therapists about your metro-sexuality and your guilt about being too privileged.
Ha! So I can stop hoarding incandescent light bulbs? Sweet. And I'll get to visit Texas, too!
What great news and more business and jobs for Texans. One good strong sharp nail into the heart of the socialist dictator Obama administration. I pray other states follow suit.
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