Of Texans And Light Bulbs. And Unconstitutional Laws

What is it with Texans and light bulbs lately?  The gradual increase in energy efficiency requirements of light bulbs required under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 survived Congressman Joe Barton's (R-Texas) challenge last week when the Better Use of Light Bulbs (BULB) Act, which would have repealed the standards, failed to pass the House by a vote of 233-193.  But on Friday, an amendment attacking the same requirements, introduced by another Republican Texan, Michael Burgess (representing my old hometown), was added to the House bill governing the Department of Energy's 2012 fiscal budget. The amendment strips funding for enforcement of these standards, but is unlikely to survive the Senate's consideration of HR 2354 (which also funds the Army Corps of Engineers and the Interior Department Water Programs).