Incandescent Light Bulbs Get Reprieve—for Now

Among the things saved in yesterday's $1 trillion spending bill, you can include the humble incandescent light bulb, reports ABC News. A 2007 energy bill requiring more efficient standards would have effectively phased out the bulbs as of Jan. 1, forcing people to switch to energy-saving fluorescent bulbs (much loved by Stephen Colbert). But a rider attached to the spending bill stripped out the money for enforcing the rule, rendering it, well, powerless.

“The American people want less government intrusion into their lives, not more, and that includes staying out of their personal light bulb choices," said Michele Bachmann. However, light bulb manufacturers say they have already retooled many of their manufacturing plants to make fluorescents, and retailers have long been phasing out the traditional bulbs, so Congress' move is likely to have little real-world effect. “The industry has moved on,” said a spokesman. (More lightbulbs stories.)