AWESOME NEWS IF IT PANS OUT: Spending bill blocks light bulb standards. “The shutdown-averting budget bill will block federal light bulb efficiency standards, giving a win to House Republicans fighting the so-called ban on incandescent light bulbs. GOP and Democratic sources tell POLITICO the final omnibus bill includes a rider defunding the Energy Department’s standards for traditional incandescent light bulbs to be 30 percent more energy efficient. DOE’s light bulb rules — authorized under a 2007 energy law authored signed by President George W. Bush — would start going into effect Jan. 1. The rider will prevent DOE from implementing the rules through Sept. 30.”

So if this works, what will I do with my closet full of incandescent bulbs? Er, use ’em, just like I would have anyway. But it’s great if we can scuttle the idiotic bulb-ban.

Plus, an interesting take from a Democratic Congressman: “It’s the power of Michele Bachmann and the presidential campaign.”

UPDATE: More here.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Cindy McNew writes: “While I agree it’s idiotic–it’s more, it’s a first potentially really big in-your-house salvo in the Green religion wars. I don’t mean to sound overly dramatic, but a lot of those folks would like to take away your clothes dryer and your trash can, too, and replace them with a clothesline and a compost bin. Low-flow toilets and shower heads are minor annoyances compared to being required to have a houseful of ugly and dangerous florescent bulbs. The repeal can’t come soon enough. Signing that law and “No Child Left Behind” are really the only things I know for sure that I need to be irritated with President Bush for.”