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Title: Rand Paul Crusades Against Energy Efficiency Standards
Source:
New York Times
URL Source: http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/0 ... energy-efficiency-s-47080.html
Published: Apr 14, 2011
Author: Katie Howell
Post Date: 2011-04-14 00:20:48 by A K A Stone
Keywords: None
Views: 6608
Comments: 21
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee may have entered a new era of partisanship. The committee famous for working across party lines faced heavy resistance yesterday from Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky as it marked up its first legislation of the new Congress. The tea party favorite voted against bipartisan energy efficiency and hydropower measures from panel Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and ranking member Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). "I think it's clear that we have more disagreement in this Congress than we had in the last Congress on a lot of issues, and this is one example," Bingaman said after the markup, where the two measures ultimately were approved. But they did not pass without a fight from Paul. The efficiency measure (S. 398 (pdf)), which would strengthen and improve energy efficiency standards for a number of consumer products, drew particular attention from Paul. He offered an amendment that would remove the enforcement authority from a broad law that imposes efficiency standards on a number of products. The bill under consideration yesterday would amend that law to add the additional appliance standards. "I think that to be consistent with a free society, we should make them voluntary," Paul said of the standards, before launching the committee into a discussion of Ayn Rand's 1937 novel "Anthem" about individual choice. Paul described a scene from the novel in which the protagonist discovers the incandescent light bulb and "he naively thinks that electricity and the brilliance of light would be an advantage for society." But when the protagonist takes the light bulb to the society's elders, they crush it "beneath the bootheel of the collective," Paul said. In the novel, "the collective has no place, basically, for individual choice," Paul said. "Now, I'm not suggesting that this collective is against electricity, per say, or individualism ... but I am suggesting that we're against choice." Paul's comments about the light bulb hearkened back to a hearing on the measure last month when he lambasted an Energy Department official for enforcing lighting and toilet efficiency standards. "We are having our choices taken away," Paul said at yesterday's markup. "It is the collective body saying you're not smart enough to buy a light bulb, to buy a toilet, and therefore we will tell you what to buy." Paul's amendment ultimately failed, but five other Republicans -- Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, John Barrasso of Wyoming, Jim Risch of Idaho, Mike Lee of Utah and Dan Coats of Indiana -- joined him in supporting it. And three of them -- Barrasso, Risch and Lee -- likewise joined him in opposing the full measure, which nearly passed by unanimous consent through the full Senate last year. Paul and Lee also opposed a separate bipartisan hydropower bill (S. 629 (pdf)) from Bingaman and seven other lawmakers that would advance hydropower project deployment by requiring better interagency coordination, funding competitive grants for increased production and investing in more research and development. But that measure, too, ultimately passed on a voice vote. The panel also reported a medical isotopes measure (S. 99) and the nomination of Peter Lyons to be an assistant secretary for nuclear energy at DOE. The panel was unable to advance two additional hydropower measures because enough senators left the hearing to attend to other business that they no longer had a quorum. A committee aide said the panel will take up those measures at a markup next month.
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#1. To: Murron, Badeye, CZ82, lucysmom, mininggold, ferret mike (#0)
We've got us a live one here. I've been watching Rand since he was elected in our state, and so far, I've not been disappointed in him. I couldn't have been prouder when a few days ago I watch him stand before congress and crash the house. The first time I ever heard of Ayn Rand was when I watched a movie several years ago with Gary Cooper, Fountain Head, the speech he gave before the court gave me chills of happiness. Since then I have started to read Atlas Shrugged, just started. I don't think it would do other's in the senate and congress any harm to bone up on some reading themselves about this nation, it's founders and what their duties are to the people. If they don't, they're all going to eventually be tossed.
You will probably like reading this, I did:
I've heard of Ayn Rand. Never read the book or books. The concept sounds interesting. I like stuff like that. Or 1984, Fahrenheit 451.
"Atlas Shrugged" opens Friday, April 15th
Thanks. I just might go and see that one.
Of course Burr, Risch and Coats opposed it. The lesser the supply of gasoline the mor the need for ethanol. Why Lee opposed it is puzzling. For years, Utah eschewed mandating ethanol blends for gas and increased corn for buio-fuel production has raised feed prices for its livestock industry. Of course, Paul totally bastardized Rand's point. The issue here is that more gas is better for society not that the wealthy should be able to ubfairly skew the price of it.
America...My Kind Of Place...
You do know that he's a Senator and is, thus, in the Senate and addresses only that chamber? Why am I asking...of course you DON'T.
America...My Kind Of Place...
Her books are nothing like either. You might like them tho - if only because the female protaganist usually gets raped by the male protaganist before engaging in a "normal" love affair of the man loathing the woman.
America...My Kind Of Place...
Not to mention the tedious writing.
------------------------------------- "I couldn't have been prouder when a few days ago I watch him stand before congress and crash the house." You do know that he's a Senator and is, thus, in the Senate and addresses only that chamber? Why am I asking...of course you DON'T. Not so fast, shearlock; there are 2 houses of Congress. The House of Repesentatives and the Senate.
Anthem is the worst of her books. We The Living is her most probable. The FountainHead is like reading S&M porn and Atlas Shrugged is somewhat anthemic but the section wherein Galt explains why he is doing what he is doing is the writing that insomniacs can only dream of reading.
America...My Kind Of Place...
One of my proudest moments in the 40s evolved when I was arrested for disorderly conduct at an extremely young age for picketing an Ayn Rand lecture. Because of my age I was not formally charged but only 'threatened' with 'relocation' to NY's JD facility in Elmira...all 4'4" of me.
I read Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged and thought they were absolutely fucking mind-blowingly amazing. When I was 15.
------------------------------------- Article I refers to them as "Houses"...yes...okay... Killjoy...
America...My Kind Of Place...
lol, that would be a very proud memory. Good for you, ya rebel!
------------------------------------- Read them both at 18. We had read We The Living in my 11th grade [1974/75] Modern Civilizations course. Found it very sexy. Kira screwing two guys at once. The teacher was a die in the wool Libertarian and LOVED Ayn Rand. He was also a hippie.
America...My Kind Of Place...
I've never understood why libertarians adore the bitch. She was an anarchist who hated power except for the intelligencia. She was a phony bitter old hag.
The Austrian/Van Mises folks love her. To them Lassez Faire is the only true governance and who gives a shit about losers. They are as perpetual as winners...
America...My Kind Of Place...
Yeah, I, as a young communist didn't think she liked common folk very much. Gotta go folks; tractor needs new transfer motor...simple, relatively cheap, but a bitch to work on...particularly at35F and ENE@ 13.
Watch yer knuckles.
-------------------------------------
#2. To: A K A Stone (#1)
(Edited)
#3. To: Murron (#2)
#4. To: Murron (#2)
#5. To: A K A Stone, Murron (#4)
I've heard of Ayn Rand. Never read the book or books.
#6. To: Bill D Berger (#5)
#7. To: A K A Stone (#0)
Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, John Barrasso of Wyoming, Jim Risch of Idaho, Mike Lee of Utah and Dan Coats of Indiana...
#8. To: Murron (#2)
I couldn't have been prouder when a few days ago I watch him stand before congress and crash the house.
#9. To: A K A Stone (#4)
I've heard of Ayn Rand. Never read the book or books. The concept sounds interesting. I like stuff like that. Or 1984, Fahrenheit 451.
#10. To: war (#9)
Why don't you make like a tree and get out of here?
#11. To: war, Murron (#8)
#12. To: Biff Tannen (#10)
(Edited)
#13. To: Biff Tannen (#10)
Not to mention the tedious writing.
#14. To: war (#12)
Why don't you make like a tree and get out of here?
#15. To: harrowup (#11)
#16. To: harrowup (#13)
Why don't you make like a tree and get out of here?
#17. To: Biff Tannen (#14)
(Edited)
#18. To: war (#17)
The teacher was a die in the wool Libertarian and LOVED Ayn Rand. He was also0 a hippie.
#19. To: harrowup (#18)
I've never understood why libertarians adore the bitch.
#20. To: war (#19)
who gives a shit about losers. They are as perpetual as winners...
#21. To: harrowup (#20)
Why don't you make like a tree and get out of here?
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