Is this is part of the Obama administration’s effort to reduce our use of electricity?
“The feds are rushing to save Americans from mass holiday displays,” says this article by Ernest Istook.
“Christmas lights have become so affordable that even the humblest of homes often are lit like the Star of Bethlehem,” says Istook. “Federal bureaucrats are working to end this. They claim it will make us safer, but the facts don’t back them up.”
“The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has created an example of regulate first and explain why later. In October they proposed new regulations to outlaw strings of bulbs, lighted lawn figures and similar items that would be declared as hazardous. The red tape deals with certifying wire sizes, fuses, and tensile strength of all “seasonal decorative lighting products.”
“This includes Christmas tree lights, lighted wreaths, menorahs, outdoor strands, lawn figures of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, or Santa or Rudolph or Frosty the Snowman. Yes, Kwanzaa, too. The agency estimates that their proposed regulations will impact 100 million items per year with a market value of $500 million.
“CPSC would never admit it, but we’re free to speculate on the true motive: That this is part of the Obama administration’s effort to reduce our use of electricity, lest global warming set the Earth on fire.
“CPSC’s comment period closes on Dec. 30th and its proposed regulations could become effective a month later. So enjoy everybody’s Christmas lights this holiday season, while you can.”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/24/ernest-istook-federal-regulators-say-bah-humbug-ch/
Comment here:
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketBrowser;rpp=25;po=0;dct=PS;D=CPSC-2014-0024
Thanks to Gale Combs for this info