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Every once in a while, one of my columns generates an unexpected response. My early May column about Daylight Saving Time was one of those. Over 300 of you responded to my question about whether Daylight Saving Time should be extended or not.
The whole idea of Daylight Saving Time was conceived by none other than Benjamin Franklin who wrote that we could take advantage of the longer days by moving our clocks forward to coincide with earlier sunrises. His proposal languished until World War I, when the United States adopted Daylight Saving Time to boost production. Public dissatisfaction led to its abolishment by Congress over President Woodrow Wilson’s veto, but it was back to stay during World War II.
In 1986, Congress passed a law establishing the daylight savings period from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October and allowed states to opt out. Consequently, Arizona, Hawaii and sections of Indiana do not recognize Daylight Saving Time.
Because some studies say Daylight Saving Time saves one percent of total U.S. energy use, or the energy equivalent of 100,000 barrels of oil per day, the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee included the two-month extension of Daylight Saving Time when it passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The House bill requires the Department of Energy to do a study on the impact of the extension no later than 9 months after passage. The measure also retains the states’ rights provisions which currently lets states opt out of the current Daylight Saving Time program.
While the House has included the extension in its version of the energy bill, it is still an open question whether it will be incorporated into the Senate version. Accordingly, I asked you for your reactions, and I can now reveal the results.
Extending Daylight Saving Time brought 137 positive responses. Another 150 said they want to keep it the way it is now. An additional 19 wrote in to suggest we cancel Daylight Saving Time altogether. Sonny, of Andrews, wrote: “I have been involved with ranching and the oil field all my life. I have never heard a rancher or oilfield hand say he would like a long hot West Texas summer day extended for one more hour.”
Anthony, of Dallas, dislikes the idea of extending Daylight Saving Time, saying, “I consider such a thing like pouring salt in an open wound. The only thing worse than Daylight Saving Time would be to extend it to more of the year.”
Another correspondent lamented that Daylight Saving Time forces everyone to reset their watches, clocks, car radios and VCRs after the time change. I dread changing them myself, so I can sympathize.
Most of those favoring an extension cited energy savings, while Sharrell of Floresville wrote that she “relishes having daylight hours to grocery shop, garden, take a walk, etc. It is very depressing to drive home in the dark.”
We even received a response from the European Union Airport Coordinators Association which urged us to keep the system the way it is, claiming that changing Daylight Saving Time could wreak havoc on international flight schedules.
Daylight Saving Time is just one part of the energy bill under consideration by Congress but, because it touches all of our lives, many people have strong opinions on the subject.
Thank you for participating in the survey. I will let my fellow senators know your thoughts on the subject as we debate this important legislation which is designed to improve America’s energy security.
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