Fred Upton, one of the most liberal Republican congressmen, is tacking hard to the right to ensure nobody blows up his bid for chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee. He's already pledged allegiance to blocking a back-door cap-and-trade by the White House and putting the heat on newly empowered HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, but now he's done a 180 on a bill that was one of his crowning achievements — the bill that effectively outlaws the incandescent bulb.
Amanda Carey at the Daily Caller writes:
Upton says that if he becomes chair of the Energy Committee, he will help undo the law he was instrumental in getting passed. He even went a step further by admitting Congress an make mistakes – a candid admission that symbolizes Upton may be trying to solidify his conservative credentials with the incoming class of “Tea Party” Republicans.
One reporter I spoke with said that Upton justified his push for the light blub law by pointing out “even industry” supported it. As I've written in the past (in 2008, 2009, and 2010), this is even more reason to dislike the bill.
