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Anoka, Minn. --- Democratic Congressional candidate Bob Olson today blasted legislation being proposed by U. S. Rep Michelle Bachmann to stop the mandatory conversation to energy-efficient, compact fluorescent lights.

“Rep. Bachmann’s bill flies in the face of virtually every scientific, industrial and public entity who unanimously support conversion to energy efficient fluorescent lights saving billions of dollars in energy costs and thereby easing global climate change,” said Bob Olson who is seeking the Democratic nomination to run against Bachmann in the Sixth Congressional District race in November.

Titled the "Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act," Bachmann’s bill seeks to repeal the nationwide phase-out of conventional light bulbs, a program supported by most Republicans including President Bush.

Bachmann says the government has no business telling consumers what kind of light bulbs they can buy.

“Bachmann is totally out of touch with the 6th district residents and the vast majority of Americans when she claims that any human connection to global warming is ‘voodoo, nonsense, hokum, a hoax’," Olson added. “The voodoo lies in Bachmann’s total ignorance regarding scientific research which unequivocally supports conversion to fluorescent bulbs.

“She fails to mention that fluorescent bulbs now account for 20 percent of all light bulb sales in the U.S., up from just one percent seven years ago,” said Olson, chairman of St. Stephen State Bank and founder of the American Sustainable Energy Council.

“Converting to these bulbs is just part of the growing ‘green’ phenomenon which is not only a plus for energy independence, the environment and national security but also is going to be a huge boost to American business and job growth in our district in the decades ahead.”