Continuing his tradition of needling the federal government, Del. Bob Marshall has introduced a measure that would allow incandescent light bulbs to be manufactured and sold once again — but only in Virginia. Marshall’s HB 66:
Establishes a procedure by which a manufacturer of incandescent light bulbs (ILBs) in Virginia may obtain a license from the State Corporation Commission. Licensed manufacturers are required to distribute their light bulbs only within the Commonwealth. The license of any licensed manufacturer is subject to revocation or suspension if it violates such requirement or engages in other prohibited conduct. The Office of the Attorney General is authorized to represent, or assist in the representation of, any licensee in any action instituted by the federal government, or by any person acting pursuant to color of federal law, in which it is alleged that the licensee has violated any provision of federal law regulating the manufacture or sale of ILBs.
It’s an exercise in federalism, with a tinge of autarky. But it follows a familiar Marshall pattern. In 2011, he managed to get Virginia into the gold, silver and platinum coin business (though Ginnes are strictly commemorative) and he called for a study of an alternative currency, but that failed to get through the House. He took a swing at cap and trade, too. But most famously, he was the driving force behind the state law that exempted Virginians from the individual mandate at the heart of Obamacare The law gave Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli the grounds to file suit against federal mandate, though that particular case is currently in limbo.
And now, the fight is on to light bulbs. A 2007 law would have banned the sale of incandescent bulbs in the U.S. beginning in January. A reprieve, of sorts, was granted in the recently-passed federal budget bill.
Readers with strong stomachs will recall that General Electric led the lobbying effort to get rid of incandescents, and that the last facility making the old bulbs was located in Winchester. GE shut it down in 2010.
