House GOP Seeking to Block Government-Funding Bill by Targeting Energy Efficiency

WASHINGTON (December 13, 2011) -- House Republicans are trying to hold up passage of legislation to keep the U.S. government running as they move to block bipartisan efforts to improve energy efficiency that will save consumers money. The following is a statement from Scott Slesinger, legislative director of NRDC:

“Nothing illustrates more clearly the House GOP’s zeal to use the must-pass spending bill to advance the extremist tea party agenda. This misguided legislative ‘rider’-- to limit the use of more energy efficient light bulbs from coming on to the market--could not move forward under normal procedures. So now right-wing ideologues are threatening to shut off the lights in government offices unless they get to increase the amount of energy it takes to light people’s homes. Utter nonsense.”