Posted by
BLOGASSAULT on Saturday, September 19, 2009 10:30:30 AM
What more can California do to control the way you live? Let me count the ways. It would seem that every week those stewards of populace control in Sacremento are introducing another fantastic way of imposing some type of control over you or your business.
Concerned that the growing popularity of big-screen televisions could make it harder for California to keep pace with electricity demand, state energy regulators are poised to crack down on energy-guzzling sets despite opposition from a powerful electronics trade group.
The first-in-the-nation TV efficiency standards would require electronics retailers to sell only energy-sipping models starting in 2011. Even tougher efficiency criteria would follow in 2013.
Of course, electronics retailers are not happy with this deal.
About a quarter of currently available television models would have to be pulled from store shelves, said Doug Johnson, senior director for technology policy with the Arlington, Va., group that represents TV makers, distributors, retailers and installers.
That could raise television prices, put home theater installers and wholesalers out of business and destroy jobs, he said.
The association contends that the regulations would force TV buyers to buy banned sets from out-of-state dealers over the Internet, depriving California retailers of customers and state and local governments of needed sales tax and corporate income tax revenue.
And so it goes in the greatest nany state in the union.