While nearly united Democratic opposition blocked a GOP attempt early last week to eliminate the impending ban on incandescent light bulbs–I guess they really do want to run our lives in every detail!–on Friday the House voted to defund enforcement of the ban.  Reported Bloomberg:

The U.S. House approved a provision to save for a year the 100-watt incandescent light bulb, which has become a pear-shaped symbol of personal freedom to some Republicans.

Lawmakers passed on a voice vote an amendment to energy- spending legislation for fiscal year 2012 barring the Energy Department from implementing or enforcing lighting-efficiency standards set by 2007 legislation. The law would effectively push the traditional bulbs off store shelves, starting with the 100-watt version next year.

Now the battle goes to the Senate and, likely, a conference committee.  The Republicans need to hang tough to keep the Bulb Polizei in their barracks. 

The issue might seem minor, but it symbolizes what is so very wrong with Washington.