Politics

‘Undo the light bulb ban,’ croons WMAL’s Brian Wilson

Michael Mayday Contributor
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A Republican bill to repeal the 2007 law that banned the sale of incandescent light bulbs failed Tuesday. To commemorate the occasion, WMAL host Brian Wilson has recorded a song begging permission to use traditional bulbs — and to end the ban on traditional light bulbs. WMAL is ABC’s talk radio affiliate in Washington, D.C.

The incandescent bulb ban was part of the energy bill that passed with bipartisan support in 2007. George W. Bush signed it into law.

It mandates that light bulbs must meet efficiency standards by 2012, followed by increasing energy standards through 2020. This week’s failed repeal bill was named the Better Use of Light Bulbs Act, or BULB for short.

Listen to the song.

Here’s a sample of Wilson’s lyrics, sung to the tune of the Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand”:

“Hey you / what were you thinking? / It’s the law of the land / Hey you / deserve a spanking / you passed the light bulb ban! / you made them contraband!”

“Now I / I have fluorescents / the light is ghastly blue / I don’t think a light bulb / should be a curlicue”

“My home has been like it’s been living / in a cave … undo the light-blub ban! / undo the light bulb ban!”