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As House Republicans have planned to assume control in January, the biggest debate about chairmanships has been over who will manage the Energy and Commerce Committee, with Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan next in line in seniority. But many conservatives object because of some of his past votes, which included one for a ban on offshore drilling in Florida and the Great Lakes and another in opposition to an extension of the Bush tax cuts on capital gains and dividends. There were others, not the least of which was his cosponsorship of the bill that led to the ban of the incandescent light bulb.
Now, according to the Washington Times, Upton says his mind has been illuminated by those who object to that ban:
“We have heard the grass roots loud and clear, and will have a hearing early next Congress,” said Mr. Upton, a Michigan Republican who is facing several others in his party in a bid to earn the gavel of the powerful committee. “The last thing we wanted to do was infringe upon personal liberties – and this has been a good lesson that Congress does not always know best….”
Mr. Upton and other lawmakers – including the other three men seeking the chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee – now say they’ve learned their lesson and want to unshackle consumers and restore their choice in light bulbs….
Steve Tomaszewski, a spokesman for Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois, another hopeful for the chair, said his boss is aware of the problems with the new bulbs and “has experienced them personally.” He said Mr. Shimkus thinks the committee should look at whether the bulbs are reliable and whether they are as energy-efficient as advertised.
Glad to hear Upton is open-minded, but why it matters to Shimkus how the bulbs do their job is irrelevant. The free market will decide that.
UPDATE:
It’s more than just his 180º on the incandescent light bulb. The representative from Michigan’s 6th District really wants the Energy and Commerce Committee chairmanship. Just look at what’s posted on his Congressional web page:
POLITICO: Fortifying Our Energy Security
December 6, 2010
On 50th Anniversary of ANWR, Upton Urges President to Open Vast Reserves
December 6, 2010
THE DAILY CALLER: Rep. Upton urges President Obama to open ANWR
December 6, 2010
THE DAILY CALLER: Now is the time to slash subsidies (for renewables)
December 3, 2010
THE HILL: Upton probes Interior’s offshore oil permitting, warns against delays
December 3, 2010
Upton Calls On EPA for Greater Transparency Over Potentially Devastating Cooling Water Regulations
December 3, 2010
DES MOINES REGISTER: Possible House energy chief slams subsidies
Dec 3, 2010
These are all pieces penned by somebody in Upton’s camp or are about Upton. Clearly his staff is on a campaign to shore up his credibility with conservative leadership (and grassroots) showing that he supports the development of domestic fossil fuels, and opposes subsidies for Left-favored alternative energy boondoggles. For example, here’s an excerpt from the Dec. 3 Daily Caller piece with his byline:
One realm that demands cuts are the renewable energy subsidies that have become so engrained in the renewable energy sector. While renewable energy has a place in an “all of the above” strategy, there is a right way and a wrong way to develop renewable resources. Carelessly throwing taxpayer money at it is the wrong way. Alarmingly, the U.S. government has spent over $10 billion a year for the past ten years on these subsidies. Imagine how $100 billion could be deployed in a far more productive manner, such as for debt repayment or tax cuts. The subsidies were originally promoted as a way to get the renewables industry going, but they have become a crutch; the businesses are allowed to ignore the rules of survival in a competitive marketplace since they know that they will get their cash flow no matter what.
The scales fell off…
