House democrats on Tuesday blocked Republican efforts to repeal their job-killing light bulb ban. The democrats’ plan was to ban 100 watt incandescent bulbs in the US markets in January 2012, with bans on lower wattage bulbs to follow.
The democrats didn’t care that their plan would give hundreds of US jobs to China.
Republicans came back on Friday morning and blocked federal light bulb efficiency standards without even a roll call vote. An amendment from Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) defunding the Energy Department’s standards for traditional incandescent light bulbs to be 30 percent more energy efficient starting next year was approved by voice vote.
The move by Republicans wasn’t just wise, it was popular. 67% of American voters oppose the bulb ban and support Republicans on this issue.