Rep. Harman Calls For Better Light Bulbs

Beginning with an opening line that our own Peter Leyden would love - "As California-and Australia and Europe-goes, so (should) go the nation. That's why it's time for the country to phase out inefficient energy-consuming light-bulbs" - California Congresswoman Jane Harman announced a new bill today that would require light bulbs made or used in the US to meet a higher energy efficiency standard, dramatically reducing energy demands from that most-used of appliances, the lamp. 

Her post in the Huffington Post nicely sums up arguements that should be familiar to all of us.  Standard incandescent lights waste energy and don't last as long as compact flourescents.  And thanks to Rep. Harman, now Congress will have a chance to encourage American producers and consumers to make the switch-over.  As Rep. Harman herself says:

The old joke revolves around how many people it takes to change a light bulb. The answer is: 218 members of Congress, 51 Senators and one President.