Fairfax, VA, July, 8th, 2011—A poll released today by the free enterprise group Americans for Limited Government showed the potency of the light bulb ban issue amongst both core Republican and Independent likely voters.
Conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, the survey showed that 46 percent of likely voters were aware that Congress had banned traditional light bulbs beginning in 2012, and 58 percent respondents opposed banning the bulbs.
The issue would repeal mandates in legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2007, which had the effect of banning the domestic production and sale of the incandescent light bulb in favor of fluorescent bulbs.
Controversy over the ban has intensified across the nation with Texas Governor Rick Perry signing a state law that allows incandescent bulbs to be manufactured in the state for sale only in the state. Similar legislation is also pending in South Carolina where it has passed one house of the legislature.
Bill Wilson, President of Americans for Limited Government called repealing the light bulb ban, “a big political winner for elected officials like Governor Perry with 72 percent of self-described Republican voters and 57 percent of the Independent voters opposing the ban.”
40 percent of respondents indicated that they would be less likely to vote for a politician who supported the light bulb ban.
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to take up the ban next week when they consider HR 2417, “The BULB Act.”
The June 21, 2011 survey measured the responses of 1,000 likely voters and has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.
The topline responses to the three questions can be found at:
www.getliberty.org/files/LightBulbBanBillToplines6-21-11.pdf
The crosstabs can be found at:
www.getliberty.org/files/Crosstabs_20110621_Light Bulbs.csv
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