Are Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Junk?

Move aims to cut down on government bureaucracy

(NEWSER) - President Obama will today announce a plan to mash together six federal agencies—including the Commerce Department—in an effort to simplify the government's sprawling regulatory bureaucracy. Obama can't actually make the move without Congressional approval, however, so he intends to ask Congress for a special reorganizational power—last held by Ronald Reagan—that would allow him to propose mergers and guarantee him an up-or-down vote on each merger from Congress within 90 days. The Wall Street Journal reports that some lawmakers may be wary of granting the Obama this fast-track authority, as they wouldn't be permitted to amend any of his proposals. More»

Congress nixes rule change, but it likely won't matter in the long run

(NEWSER) - 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. More»

Bar soap, antiperspirant spray wane in popularity

(NEWSER) - Another casualty of the recession could be your favorite deodorant: As consumers flock toward store brands and stores in turn look to downsize, the result is the death of some of America's best-known consumer products, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. "As we shrink the size of stores, a number of products will disappear," says a consumer expert. Some of the prominent victims:

• Incandescent light bulbs: Government regulation is helping push this one out—more than half of Target's lightbulb section is dominated by CFLs.

Former energy CEO John Bryson picked to head Dept. of Commerce

(AP) - President Obama will nominate businessman John Bryson to lead the Commerce Department, a White House official said today. Bryson's appointment brings another private sector player into an administration that has been making a concerted effort to improve its relationship with the business community. Bryson is a former chairman and chief executive officer of Edison International, a California-based energy company. He also has an extensive background in environmental issues, having co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council and served on a United Nations advisory group on energy and climate change. More»

That's about 11% of total consumer spending

(NEWSER) - Ever wonder how much Americans spend on non-essential goodies such as jewelry, yachts, booze, and even candy? A lot, as in $1.2 trillion, or about 11% of total consumer spending, reports the Wall Street Journal . The percentage is up from 9.3% a decade ago and 4% in 1959, according to a Commerce Department study. (Food, housing, and medicine would be examples of "essential" goods in the study.) More»