Congress May Extend Daylight-Saving Time

The Associated Press reports that if Congress passes an energy bill, Americans may see more daylight-saving time.

Lawmakers crafting energy legislation approved an amendment Wednesday to extend daylight-saving time by two months, having it start on the last Sunday in March and end on the last Sunday in November.
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"Extending daylight-saving time makes sense, especially with skyrocketing energy costs," said Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., who along with Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., co-sponsored the measure.
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"The more daylight we have, the less electricity we use," said Markey, who cited Transportation Department estimates that showed the two-month extension would save the equivalent of 10,000 barrels of oil a day.

Some bloggers might criticize the extension of daylight savings time as dumb, unnecessary, or a cheap political dodge to avoid dealing with real energy issues like expediting the construction of new coal and nuclear power plants.

I, however, want to congratulate America's legislators for finally standing up to the powerful Celestial Mechanics Lobby (CML). Yes, for centuries the CML'ers and their fellow Forces of Darkness in the light bulb, candle, and energy sectors have peddled the illusion that Earth's revolution in orbit around the Sun combined with the tilt of its axis resulted in varying periods of daylight and darkness throughout the seasons.

There is even some support for the CML in the Clock Manufacturer League. Think of how much wear and tear Americans subject their clocks to twice each year by turning the hands back and forth switching from daylight to standard time. ( Notice that the Celestial Mechanics Lobby and the Clock Manufacturer League both share the same initials: CML. A mere coincidence? I think not.)

But now, thanks to Congress, additional free sunlight is only a majority vote away. (Well, 60 votes in the Senate, of course.)

My only objection to the Upton-Markey provision is that it doesn't go far enough. If Congress can extend daylight savings time by two months, why not make it year round -- as was done in World War II?

Better yet, Congress should drive a stake through the heart of the CML once and for all by simply legislating as much daylight as Americans want.