The House voted down a measure that would have overturned controversial lightbulb-efficiency rules slated to go into effect next year. The new standards, passed as part of President Bush’s 2007 energy law, require traditional incandescent bulbs to be 30 percent more energy-efficient beginning in 2012. That means conventional 100-watt incandescent bulbs will not be manufactured anymore, and lower-wattage incandescent bulbs will be phased out. Republican Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, sponsor of the failed measure, said these rules are “overkill by the federal government.” The bill failed by 51 votes to meet the two thirds majority needed for passage.
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