Kamala Harris is torched for Thanksgiving photo next to a gas stove after Biden administration considered banning them over health concerns
Kamala Harris has been mocked online for posting a Thanksgiving photo of her kitchen, with a gas stove.
The head of the nation’s top consumer watchdog, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said last year that his agency might take some regulatory action.
It came in light of growing research linking gas stoves to pollutants that harm both human health and the environment.
Republicans seized on the idea, claiming the Biden administration wanted to ban gas stoves, which the White House was forced to deny after the memo surfaced.
“Good morning everyone, except the never-ending hypocrisy of left-wing Commie – nice gas stove Kamala,” tweeted “Catturd” – a popular conservative commentator, with 2.1 million followers.
Mike Collins, a member of the House of Representatives representing Georgia, wrote on X: “Is that a gas stove?”
Scott Walker, the Republican former governor of Wisconsin, asked the same thing.
And actor Kevin Sorbo, star of the 1990s TV series Hercules, tweeted: “I thought gas stoves were bad for the environment.”
Berny Jacques, a state politician for Florida, used the post to urge people to move to his state.
“Meanwhile, they want you to give up your gas stoves while they make do with theirs,” he said.
“Friendly reminder: Not only do gas stoves remain legal in Florida, we’ve also made them tax-free!”
Joe Biden said he does not support banning gas stoves, and White House spokesman Michael Kikukawa said, “The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is independent, does not ban gas stoves.”
The saga started in October 2022, then Richard Trumka Jr., the Biden-appointed head of the consumer watchdog, wrote a memo to another commissioner saying there was enough evidence for the CPSC to start the rulemaking process to ban new gas stoves.
“The need for regulation of gas stoves has reached a boiling point,” Trumka said.
“CPSC has a responsibility to ban consumer products that emit hazardous substances, especially if those emissions are harmful to children, under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.
‘Emerging evidence is sufficient to conclude that gas heaters in homes emit toxic gases that cause disease and that cheaper, safer alternatives are available.’
In January this year, Trumka told Bloomberg that the watchdog was considering recommending a ban on the sale of new gas stoves.
The White House insisted they were not in favor of a ban on stoves.
But in February, the Department of Energy issued recommendations “for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including conventional consumer cooking products.”
Joe Biden said he does not support banning gas stoves, and White House spokesman Michael Kikukawa said, “The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is independent, does not ban gas stoves.”
The department must review consumer products and assess their costs and impact.
They are not banning consumer goods, but rather saying what the standards should be in the future.
“As required by Congress, the Department of Energy is proposing efficiency standards for gas and electric cooktops – nor are we proposing a ban,” a Department of Energy spokesperson said.
“The proposed standards would not take effect until 2027 and would cumulatively save the nation up to $1.7 billion.
“Every major manufacturer has products that meet or exceed current requirements.”