We’ll add this to the long list of crazy from the US Congress. A reasonable bipartisan Bush-era regulation enacted with industry buy-in is now being targeted by Republican representatives. The goal, as part of a larger right wing battle with all regulation, is apparently to slow and perhaps stop progress.
Several years back a coalition of manufacturers and retailers including Home Depot successfully lobbied congress for uniform regulations to regulate fan efficiency. The new law was signed by George W. Bush in 2005. With industry buy-in the national rules were designed to clean up a maze of varied statewide efficiency rules that made it difficult for manufacturers. A compromise was arranged exempting decorative ceiling fans, and the law requires standards to be reviewed and updated every six years.
New efficiency standards for decorative ceiling fan are now on the horizon. And US Republican Representatives Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee and Indiana’s Todd Rokita – both with decorative ceiling fan manufacturers in their districts – have offered amendments to defund and disrupt the entire process. Rep. Rokita is moving plenty of hot air:
“The disregard the Obama Energy Department bureaucrats have for the practical implications of their red tape is outrageous…”
And not to be outdone, Tennessee’s Blackburn heads to the barricades for her local ceiling fan makers.
“First, they came for our health care,” she said on the House floor. “Then they took away our light bulbs, and raided our nation’s most iconic guitar company – now they are coming after our ceiling fans. Nothing is safe from the Obama administration’s excessive regulatory tentacles.”
All this Republican hot air even though, in order to amend the Bush era “regulatory tentacles,” the Energy Department has to find that improved standards are technologically feasible and economically justified.
Oh, wait, maybe those of us trying to slow or reverse global climate change have it all wrong! Maybe this is about future beachfront property in Tennessee and Indiana!
Can I get that as a fridge magnet?
Like the little boy who cried “Wolf!,” it’s getting ever easier to ignore Republican
outrage.
they came for the leaded gasoline, and I said nothing.
Then they came for the freon, and I said nothing.
Then they came for the VOCs, and again, I said nothing.
Then they came for the lightbulbs, and I became angry, and said nothing.
When they came for the ceiling fans, it was too late.