Light Bulbs and Corporate Welfare

Democrats continue to believe that Americans are too stupid to choose their own light bulbs. But it’s worth noting who, in addition to Democrats, favors light bulb socialism: Big Business.

Companies like General Electric, Philips, and Osram Sylvania are not happy with the inplementation delay because they invested lots of money getting ready for the new laws. The new laws were not actually delayed, but rather the enforcement was delayed. Without funding, the Department of Energy (DOE) will have no way to make sure that Americans no longer use incandescent light bulbs.

The law, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, signed by George W. Bush, that was to go into effect on January 1st, 2012, only applied to 100 watt bulbs. 75-watt bulbs would have been regulated out-of-existence in 2013, and all other incandescents in 2014. But enforcement of the new law was de-funded by GOP lawmakers who were able to include an enforcement postponement of the law in the Omnibus spending bill.

Philips, in 2007, sought an incandescent light bulb ban as a way to force the market toward high-efficiency bulbs. Philips said that without such laws, “purchase price and functional performance often take precedence over environmental concern.” Also in 2007, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) told a Senate panel that an incandescent light bulb ban was needed “to further educate consumers on the benefits of energy-efficient products.”

Many corporations made their peace with the US government and now lobby to safeguard their market shares and guarantee their profits. Republicans should be pro economic liberty, not pro corporate welfare.

And, as Rich Mitchell closed his article, Representative Fred Upton (R-MI), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said that they [Republicans] had “heard the message loud and clear. Americans don’t want government standards determining how they light their homes.”

But that’s just my opinion.