Limbaugh accuses Upton of “nannyism” over light bulb bill

Rush Limbaugh says that Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) should not become chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee because he co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to phase out incandescent light bulbs.

On his show yesterday Limbaugh said:

Now, this would be a tone deaf disaster if the Republican leadership lets Fred Upton ascend to the chairmanship of the House energy committee. This is exactly the kind of nannyism, statism, what have you, that was voted against and was defeated last week. No Republican complicit in nannyism, statism, can be rewarded this way. But seniority may rule the day.

In 2007 Upton, together with Jane Harman (D-CA) sponsored a bill to phase out the 100 watt incandescent light bulb by 2012, ban all incandescents by 2014, and require that light bulbs be at least three times as efficient as today’s 100-watt incandescent bulb by 2020. This measure became part of the Energy Independence and Security Act.

A release from Harman’s office estimated that the light bulb legislation will prevent the emission of 100 million tons of carbon dioxide annually by 2030.

“We must continue to put the spotlight on energy savings,” Upton said this spring as he and Harman introduced a bill to extend efficiency standards to outdoor lighting, “As our nation’s energy needs are expected to jump significantly over the next two decades, it is imperative that we take advantage of burgeoning efficient technologies. With American industry taking the lead, we will help create jobs here at home and save communities billions of dollars each year in their energy bills.”

Limbaugh predicted widespread resistance to energy-saving compact fluorescent lighting.

Upton’s competition for the chairmanship comes from Joe Barton (R-TX) — who apologized to BP for having to compensate victims of the Gulf oil spill — and Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) who rejected concerns about climate change on the grounds that the earth will end only when God decides it will be over.