McCotter: The brightest bulb?

U.S. Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-Livonia) says Republican Rep. Fred Upton and the Democrats are denying Americans an opportunity to innovate — and he seems to have invented a law that does not exist.

In an interview on the radio show of conservative radio host and convicted Watergate figure G. Gordon Liddy, McCotter and Liddy seem to believe that incandescent light bulbs have been banned in the United States — and that this is some sort of liberal plot against American technological innovation.

Here is a transcript from the folks at Think Progress:

LIDDY: Is there any chance that you fellas can talk to [House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred] Upton and get our light bulbs back, for heaven’s sake?

McCOTTER: Yes, yes. I saw that some on the left were praising the end of the incandescent bulb, at the very time they’re talking about an innovation economy. The irony is striking. One of the greatest innovations in American history was the incandescent bulb and I think we got to put it back where people can use them again.

I’m afraid the irony has been reversed here. First of all, incandescent light bulbs have not been banned. A provision in the 2007 energy bill sponsored by Upton phases in a requirement that light bulbs be at least 25 percent more efficient than they currently are. The incandescent bulbs currently in use do not meet that standard, but the requirement will, of course, spur more innovation to ensure that they do.

Secondly, the bulbs on the market that do meet that new efficiency standard — compressed flourocarbon, or CFL bulbs — were invented by an American, Ed Hammer of General Electric. And they save on energy and last longer than incandescent bulbs. Sounds like American innovation to me.