Republicans are now looking to repeal legislation that put green requirements on light bulbs in 2007. Despite Republican rhetoric, the law does not ban incandescent lighting, but rather requires new bulbs to use 25 to 30 per cent less energy starting in 2012. Hardly the totalitarian law they are painting it to be.

The man pushing the bill to repeal the regulation is Senator Mike Enzi. “Government doesn’t need to be in the business of telling people what light bulb they have to use,” Enzi said. “If left alone, the best bulb will win its rightful standing in the marketplace.”

The Republicans behind the bill are bringing in scare tactics like trying to paint the amount of mercury contained in a compact fluorescent lightbulb (CFL) as toxic, when each contains no more mercury than a watch battery, with zero exposure for a consumer unless the tougher-than-conventional bulbs are smashed.

Tags: environmental legislation, green lighting

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