When Congress passed the recent energy bill, it began a process of phasing out the traditional light bulb that was first invented by Thomas Edison. While this was done to increase energy efficiency, some, like Sam Kazman of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, aren’t convinced this is good for consumers or the environment: “Fluorescent light bulbs have serious limitations. They can’t be used with most dimmers or timers, and they don’t fit in many fixtures. In addition, many people don’t like them because they take time to reach full brightness after they’re turned on — from 30 seconds to three minutes. Since they also contain mercury and can also interfere with radios and televisions, I’m not sure this regulation necessarily makes for wise public policy.”