The Los Angeles Times criticized Republican lawmakers, who are in favor of protecting gas stoves from being banned, for trying to “fan the flames of a cultural war.”
In the opinion article, the editorial board argues GOP lawmakers could be using their time and resources to tackle issues related to gun violence, voting, and the environment.
The opinion piece came in response to the House passing the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act in a 248-180 vote last week.
“Of all the urgent problems House Republicans could be tackling — gun violence, voting rights, climate change — they are using some of their power to fan the flames of a cultural war,” the LA Times wrote.
The editorial board for the LA Times continued to argue the “Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act and the Save Our Gas Stoves Act” were no more than political theater.
Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), the sponsor of the bill, wrote on Twitter he felt “Americans should decide if gas stoves are right for their families,” rather than be told what to do by the government. “I’m glad to see this commonsense bill to rein in the admin pass.”
Tonight my Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act passed the House with a bipartisan vote.
— Congressman Kelly Armstrong (@RepArmstrongND) June 13, 2023
Americans should decide if gas stoves are right for their families, not the Federal Government. I’m glad to see this commonsense bill to rein in the admin pass. pic.twitter.com/xtUBMnqK2v
The editorial board for the LA Times pointed out “the measures” taken by Republican lawmakers show how they keep trying to cling to the past while the world is “slowly but surely” making the move to “all-electric.”
According to the bill, “No Federal funds may be used by the [Consumer Product Safety Commission] to regulate a gas stove as a banned hazardous product.”
Additionally, the bill prohibits the CPSC from using federal money to “enforce any consumer product safety standard or rule on gas stoves” which would lead to the unsafe removal of them.
The opinion article continues to argue the legislation that was passed points to a “nonexistent problem” because the government is not going to confiscate people’s gas stoves, adding these types of bills only seek to “hamper regulators” from doing their job to set “standards to keep Americans safe.”
Meanwhile, New York made history at the end of April when they became the first state to pass a law which would ban natural gas and other fossil fuel hookups in future homes and apartments, according to The Washington Post.