U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) took to X on Tuesday to express her disapproval of the passage of a bill designed to prevent the federal government from imposing sweeping regulations that would dictate how Americans are allowed to wash their clothes.
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Rep. Pingree responded to the passage of the Liberty in Laundry Act, put forward by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) and designed to stop federal energy efficiency rules from imposing undue costs on consumers and restricting the household appliances they can purchase.
“Here’s the reality: Energy-efficiency standards are *not* bans. They’re commonsense tools that save Americans money while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. I voted NO on this ridiculous bill because Americans deserve real cost-saving measures, not more empty campaign promises,” said Pingree on X.
The bill specifically addresses new Department of Energy (DOE) regulations proposed under President Joe Biden that would impose new energy and water efficiency standards for residential washing machines and dryers, set to take effect in 2028.
The federal government has not announced new regulations for washers and dryers since 2011 under the Obama Administration.
Rep. Ogles’ bill demands that any new regulations for washing machines consider the technological feasibility and economic effects of any potential regulations.
The secretary of energy is forbidden from imposing any new regulations that will ultimately increase net costs for consumers, including costs associated with the purchase of a new machine, its maintenance, energy and water use, installation, and even the cost of removing the old machine.
The Biden Administration, along with Pingree, claims that the new regulations will ultimately save Americans money by reducing energy and water bills.
The DOE claimed in February, when it announced the coming regulations, that they will ultimately save American households a collective $2.2 billion per year in energy and water costs, along with numerous alleged environmental benefits.
The DOE’s announcement conspicuously avoided mentioning the costs of actually purchasing the machines or any other associated costs that must be considered under the newly passed bill.
According to HomeGuide, the current average price range for buying a new washing machine and dryer set is between $1,000 and $2,300, not including the cost of installation or the cost to remove an old machine.
Ogles believes that the new regulations will ultimately lead to increased costs for Americans and may even fail to reduce energy and water bills.
“This administration is still doing its best to make household appliances unaffordable,” said Ogles, “When the government tries to micromanage something as basic as your laundry routine, including which washing machines you can buy, and how much you pay for them, my Republican colleagues and I will take a stand.”
Dryers are not mentioned in the bill, and if it ultimately becomes law, the federal government will still be free to impose burdensome efficiency regulations on those.
The bill passed by a slim 215-200 margin, split largely along party lines, with all voting Republicans supporting the bill, and all but six voting Democrats opposing it.
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) joined Pingree in opposing the bill.
My son knows Andy and Andy is a good father, husband and man. He isn’t buying into the leftist the world is ending cause we dry our clothes once a week in a clothes dryer. These leftist need to immediately get rid of all their possessions, homes, cars etc and go live in the Maine woods and make their green life. Till these leftist live like the Amish, they have nothing valid to say about climate change
Democrats call keeping inappropriate reading material out of the hands of children a “ban” but Ms. Pingree doesn’t think that energy standard requirements aren’t bans? Where did she go to school?
Jump on THIS Janet ….We Won’t Wait !
Everybody will have to get one of these new super efficient washers .
Maine can give you rebates . Make you think you’re saving .
Throw away the old one in order to get your rebate check .
The New Improved one will use a conservative ONE PINT of water .
It will take 3 Hours per “wash” and spin the electric meter right off your house .
Your clothes will smell .
You are saving water and making Maine a better place .
I would like pinhead and two face liar golden to come here and study how I wipe my ass. Maybe they have some suggestions on how to improve a process they know nothing about.
Get the hell out of my life Pingree and Golden…… you jerks. Are you not paying attention to the recent mandate?
I want a washer that washes and a dryer that dries. If I have to run them twice to get as good as a clean as my old one are they any cheaper?
These are the boneheads Maine people keep sending to DC. Good grief!
If the government calls it efficient, it isn’t.
We the people do fully realize that these two traitors were SELECTED. Not elected.
Pingree and Golden are both Demorat socialists who crave power over the people of Maine. Global Warming is BS.
what kind of nutcases are running our state…. woo…. nothing surprises me anymore … they’re nuts.
I am willing to bet anyoune who thinks that Chellie has ever used a washing machine!
Do these professionals have any idea how much it costs to wash clothes right now? If you live in an apartment or house that doesn’t have washers/dryers, you have to go to the local laundromat where you pay $10 just to wash a standard load, and half again as much to dry them. Now, I’m not opposed to “solar drying” but I’m not washing in the local stream in the middle of winter. With all our power outages, a lot more people could be stuck without use of washers/dryers. You elected folks are driving society to revolt.
You get what you vote for and the people of Maine re-elected two representatives who think their job is to meddle in how you do laundry. “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.” H.L. Mencken
To quote Liawatha you can only push people so far..
More mandates by unelected officials.
Great, we’re 37 trillion in debt, we have 2 proxy wars in progress, unidentified drones flying all over the country now and a president who is doing all he can to do as much damage to the country as possible in the next 30 days but they’re worried about how muck water it takes to wash my skivvies? Honestly, the nerve of these people.
You know what would save the American taxpayers a hell of a lot more than a paltry $2 billion? Close the borders, deport criminal illegal aliens, shut down the $$ supply to Ukraine and fire 50% of the federal workforce. Yeah, that would be good, for starters.
Just ignore this shitfest. Agencies have no lawmaking authority. None. Only legislatures can make law. Ignore this shitfest and start enforcing your rights! Need to register your pet? No. You have a right to a pet and no license can be required. Need a permit for a yard sale? No! You have a right to sell your possessions and no permit can be required. Come on, people. Read the constitution and take back your rights.