Incandescent Light Bulb Freedom Act

I want the federal government to stay out of my sockets.

I am pro-choice when it comes to light bulbs.

Here's an editorial about the feds' meddling in state matters and the right to choose.

From the Washington Times:

(Greg Groesch/Illustration)

State lawmakers are fed up with the federal government micromanaging their lives. The South Carolina Senate is scheduled to strike back Tuesday with a bill that asserts the 10th Amendment right of the state to tell Washington to take a hike when it comes to the sale of incandescent light bulbs manufactured within state borders.

Ever since then-President George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the clock has been ticking on Thomas Edison's venerable incandescent. Unless Congress acts before Jan. 1, 2012, federal bureaucrats will begin their campaign to foist the mostly Chinese-made, compact fluorescent bulbs on a public that has shown no interest in buying them on the free market.

Palmetto State lawmakers aren't interested in waiting for the feds to see the light. The "South Carolina Incandescent Light Bulb Freedom Act" declares any fixture that bears the stamp "Made in South Carolina" is a product of intrastate commerce and thus "is not subject to federal law or federal regulation." State Rep. William E. Sandifer III, chairman of the South Carolina House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, told The Washington Times that the measure he co-sponsored has a very good chance of becoming law. "I believe that it is improper for the federal government to tell us as citizens what light bulbs we can use to light our own private homes or businesses," he explained. "I think the feds have overstepped our 10th Amendment constitutional rights as they've so often done under the Commerce Clause."

Conservative lawmakers ultimately are looking to mount a Supreme Court challenge that would, they hope, roll back the expansive interpretation of interstate commerce that has allowed the federal government to meddle in our everyday affairs. "Are we to that point in this country where we have to get down to telling them what kind of lights they can have in their house?" asked Arizona state Sen. Frank R. Antenori, a Republican, who sponsored the first incandescent freedom bill in 2009.

...Ideally, Congress would pass the light-bulb freedom measure introduced by Rep. Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican, which repeals the 2007 ban. Realistically, her measure would have a tough time getting past the veto pen of President Obama. That's why states are looking at their own declarations of lighting freedom. It will only take one state's defiance of federal overreach to break the system. Should Mr. Sandifer's bill be the first enacted, there is no doubt the South Carolina will see a substantial increase in tourism next year - as drivers fill the trunks of their cars with mercury-free bulbs.

I do not want mercury light bulbs in my home.

You need a hazmat crew to clean up broken bulbs. It's crazy.

Read the EPA's recommendations for handling a broken bulb, aka mercury spill.

Fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. When a fluorescent bulb breaks in your home, some of this mercury is released as mercury vapor. The broken bulb can continue to release mercury vapor until it is cleaned up and removed from the residence. To minimize exposure to mercury vapor, EPA recommends that residents follow the cleanup and disposal steps described below.

This page presents only the most important steps to reduce exposure to mercury vapor from a broken bulb.

Before cleanup

---Have people and pets leave the room.
---Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.
---Shut off the central forced air heating/air-conditioning system, if you have one.
---Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb.

During cleanup

---Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
---Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.

After cleanup

---Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly.
---Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.
---If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system shut off for several hours.

View the "Detailed Recommendations" for cleaning up a Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb.

It's a nightmare!

These things pose a significant health risk.

Read about cleaning up a broken mercury thermometer.

Why would anyone want to bring a load of light bulbs with mercury into their homes?

Right now, the EPA recommends NOT using CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs in certain instances.

Actions You Can Take to Prevent Broken Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Fluorescent bulbs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. To avoid breaking a bulb, follow these general practices:

---Always switch off and allow a working CFL bulb to cool before handling.
---Always handle CFL bulbs carefully to avoid breakage.

---If possible, screw/unscrew the CFL by holding the plastic or ceramic base, not the glass tubing.
---Gently screw in the CFL until snug. Do not over-tighten.
---Never forcefully twist the glass tubing.

---Consider not using CFLs in lamps that can be easily knocked over, in unprotected light fixtures, or in lamps that are incompatible with the spiral or folded shape of many CFLs.
---Do not use CFL bulbs in locations where they can easily be broken, such as play spaces.
---Use CFL bulbs that have a glass or plastic cover over the spiral or folded glass tube, if available. These types of bulbs look more like incandescent bulbs and may be more durable if dropped.
---Consider using a drop cloth (e.g., plastic sheet or beach towel) when changing a fluorescent light bulb in case a breakage should occur. The drop cloth will help prevent mercury contamination of nearby surfaces and can be bundled with the bulb debris for disposal.

When incandescent bulbs are banned and only CFL bulbs are available, what will the EPA recommend for lighting in cases it now says CFL bulbs pose a safety risk?

Candles?