As a follow-up to my previous post on the bill Rep. Bachmann introduced to slow down the new fancy-schmancy light bulb train, thought you might actually want to read the bill for yourself. (Note the participation of eleven other Representatives, all Republicans.)
To provide for the repeal of the phase out of incandescent light bulbs unless the Comptroller General makes certain specific findings.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act’ .
SEC. 2. REPEAL.
(a) In General- Effective 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act , sections 321 and 322, and the items in the table of contents relating thereto, of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 are repealed, unless the Comptroller General has before that time transmitted to the Congress a report containing all of the findings described in section 3(a).
(b) Reversion- If a repeal occurs under subsection (a), the amendments made by sections 321 and 322 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 are hereby repealed, and the laws amended thereby shall read as if those amendments had not been enacted.
SEC. 3. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT.
(a) Findings- A report referred to in section 2(a) is a report that finds that–
(1) consumers will obtain a net savings, in terms of dollars spent on the combination of monthly electric bills and expenses for new light fixtures to accommodate the use of the light bulbs required by the amendments described in section 2(a), compared to dollars spent before the enactment of those amendments;
(2) the phase-out required by those amendments will reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent in the United States by the year 2025; and
(3) such phase-out will not pose any health risks, including risks associated with mercury containment in certain light bulbs, to consumers or the general public, including health risks with respect to hospitals, schools, day care centers, mental health facilities, and nursing homes.
(b) Projections- The report shall include monthly and yearly projections of expenses described in subsection (a)(1) over the period of January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2017.
Hereby let it be noted that Shelby Gekko and company think it unreasonable to actually study if the bulbs will have a net benefit for consumers, and that they pose no health risk.
