As recently as April, Axios reported that there was some “frustration” among Republicans in the House of Representatives over their party’s focus on home appliance legislation, especially given the obvious fact that the Democratic-led Senate would ignore the measures of the Republican Party.
In the months that followed, however, Republican leaders in the House ignored these concerns and apparently saw this as a winning issue. This attitude persists – even now, in the aftermath of Election Day. The Washington Examiner reported:
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a Republican bill that would prevent new energy efficiency standards for washing machines unless new regulations are “cost-effective or technologically feasible.” The measure adds to the Republican Party’s recent efforts to highlight opposition to new home appliance regulations and advance legislation to block such regulations being implemented or considered by the Biden administration.
The final result of the vote was 215 to 200. Republicans in the House of Representatives were predictably unanimous in their support for the legislation, which was championed by Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee. All but six Democrats in the House of Representatives opposed the bill, and 15 members skipped the vote entirely.
The measure now heads to the Democratic-led Senate, which will of course completely ignore the Liberty in Laundry Act during the pre-inaugural lame-duck session.
However, the latest developments in the House of Representatives were more than just an example of unnecessary presumption. On the contrary, they were also the newest in a series of attempts at unnecessary posturing.
For example, it was in May when Republicans in the House of Representatives passed the Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act (or “HOOHA”), which, if enacted, would make it more difficult to set energy efficiency standards for washing machines, among other things.
GOP leaders went from there. In the spring, the party voted to roll back efficiency standards for refrigerators with the Fridge Freedom Act. Over the summer, they targeted efficiency standards for dishwashers with the Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act. Apparently in the fall it was time to focus on washing machines.
There is no great mystery about the broader political context: Republican members have a problem with energy efficiency standards, which previously enjoyed relatively bipartisan support before the party’s approach to energy policy shifted sharply to the right.
A PunchBowl News report published earlier this year helped sum things up: “This is all part of the Republican culture war battle over energy efficiency and climate change. It’s akin to the gas-stove hysteria or Trump’s war on low-flush toilets and incandescent light bulbs.”
During a floor debate on one of these home appliance measures, Democratic Rep. Katie Porter of California described the effort as “ridiculous,” adding, “It’s Congress at its worst.”
That was true when the congressman made the comment in July, and it’s just as accurate now.
This message updates our related previous reporting.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
