States’ Rights Live On

Image via WikipediaPosted by Tait Trussell on Jun 16th, 2011 at FrontPage Magazine

The fundamental principle of states’ rights survives—at least in South Carolina. The Palmetto State’s House chamber last month passed a measure standing up to a federal “green” law. The law requires all Americans to buy new-fangled light bulbs to save energy, even if it doesn’t save our eyesight and even if it can make us ill.

The South Carolina bill, called “The Incandescent Light Bulb Freedom Act,” would let South Carolinians buy the light bulbs everybody is used to, as long as the bulbs are made and sold in South Carolina. For anyone not aware of the federal law, which takes effect in six months, you will be forbidden to buy those inexpensive, bright 100-watt bulbs to read your bedside book, your newspaper, magazines, research papers, or anything else.

South Carolina State Rep. William Sandife III, chairman of the House Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee, predicted the measure will become law. Because it is a product of intrastate commerce it is, therefore, not subject to federal regulation.

A spokesman for South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said she is waiting to see the specific bill language. But, it would be hard to imagine the conservative governor would not sign such legislation once it completes its course through the state assembly.

Under federal law, intended to save energy, you will be required by Jan. 1 to buy the dim, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) containing illness-causing mercury. Thomas Edison must be shuddering in his grave.

While Obama wants to force everybody to buy health insurance or pay a fine, you will just have to buy the new light bulbs. No fine or imprisonment has been mentioned. Attorney General Eric Holder, however, could be mobilizing light-bulb squads to ride through the countryside at night to enforce the law. Nothing is impossible in Obamaland. A query to the Justice Department on enforcement was not answered.

Not only will manufacturers be banned from making the incandescent 100 watt bulb after Jan. 1, this will be followed by restrictions against lower watt versions in future years.

It doesn’t stop there. Our debt-ridden government is spending money we don’t have to subsidize development of more “high-efficiency” bulbs. The Obama Energy Department June 7 announced it is giving three California companies$4.2 million to speed up development of the bulbs, the Los Angeles Times reported.

You Light Up My Life (or not)

Image via WikipediaMany folks are unaware that the federal government's Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 phases out Thomas Edison's incandescent bulbs in favor of the newer CFLs beginning in 2012 and culminates in a total ban on the older technology by 2014.


California is leading the way by banning the sale of 100 watt incandescent bulbs in 2011, a year ahead of the rest of the country. The remaining 75, 60 and 40 watt bulbs will be phased into the ban in subsequent years.


To environmentalists this is currently a victory but could become a nightmare in future years. Advocates of the replacement CFL bulbs laud their energy saving feature while opponents decry their inferior lighting qualities.


There are other, much more subtle consequences, of this switch.


You see, each of the CFL replacement bulbs contain mercury. This makes them almost impossible to produce in the US due to the burden of government regulations. So one consequence will be to drive the jobs that were used to manufacture traditional bulbs overseas.


Another consequence is the potential to impact the environment when disposing of used CFLs. Most people don't realize that they are to be treated as hazardous waste.  I wonder how many of these little poison mercury bombs will wind up in traditional landfills?


The EPA has issued a set of guidelines dealing with how the average consumer should handle the cleanup of a broken CFL. These guidelines include: 

• open a window and leave the room for 5-10 minutes
• shut off the central air/heating system
• don't vacuum the area unless you have too and if you do, immediately remove the vacuum bag and seal it in a plastic bag

You can read the complete EPA guidelines for disposal of CFLs at:


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