I hope that this is correct...

...but I also hope that the supply I've laid up since 2007 makes it unnecessary for me to buy any more anyway...

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.

But Democrats said they could claim a "compromise" by adding language to the omnibus that requires DOE grant recipients greater than $1 million to certify they will upgrade the efficiency of their facilities by replacing any lighting to meet or exceed the 2007 energy law's standards.

Fueled by conservative talk radio, Republicans made the last-ditch attempt to stop federal regulations from making their way into every Americans' living room.

"There are just some issues that just grab the public's attention. This is one of them," said Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.). "It's going to be dealt with in this legislation once and for all."

Based on my anticipated needs, I've got a 30-year (or longer) supply of 100W incandescent bulbs in my basement right now. (Unless they start breaking or burning out MUCH faster than they ever have, or I suddenly end up tripling my fixtures.) But I hope that I'll still be able to buy them next year...

Upton: House Will Vote to Bring Back the Bulb

I'll believe it when it happens, and not before, but this is a positive development. Or positive lip service, anyway...
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R.,Mich.) has finally agreed to support a bill this summer that means lights out on the looming 2012 ban on the incandescent light bulb. Upton himself co-sponsored 2007 legislation making light bulbs illegal, a ban that has become a symbol of bipartisan Big Government run amok.
Here's a fascinating question. Presuming that Congress does, in fact, get a bill passed through both houses that removes the 2012 energy standards for light bulbs that was going to result in a de facto ban of the 100-watt incandescent, what are the political calculations by which President Obama decides to sign or veto it? It seems that, the more people become aware of what's supposed to happen, the more people are opposed to it. And the more people learn about the compact fluorescents, the more the enthusiasm for them has waned. It's hard to believe that there won't be significant majority support in favor of letting people choose their own light bulbs. On the other hand, the people who want that "ban" in the first place are Obama supporters, and he has to decide if he can disappoint them yet again.

My guess is that there won't be a "clean" bill, and it will get to his desk, if it manages to get through the Senate at all, no sure thing, with something attached by which he can justify a veto. But we'll have to wait and see.

The other interesting question is this. How many manufacturers of 100-watt incandescents are left, anyway?

All in all, I think I'll continue to add to my stash, which is probably only enough to last me 10 years or so at this point...