It’s not just New York State that is banning gas stoves. Twelve Democrat state attorneys general signed a letter to federal regulators this week calling for strict regulations on gas cooking stoves, arguing that they are unhealthy, and looking to the federal government to begin educating the public against the cooking tools.
The move started late last year, when U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. said publicly the agency will in 2023 take action against household gas stoves, which he says are linked to asthma and other respiratory issues.
Trumka was put on the commission by President Joe Biden in 2021. Biden has stated he is not in favor of banning gas stoves. With a public uproar and pushback against Trumka and Biden, the job of getting the public to turn against gas stoves was sent to the Democrat-run states. The political ramifications for Biden were becoming too hot.
The May 8 letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission beseeches the federal commission to do something to “reduce the harms associated with gas stoves due to their disproportionate impact on underserved communities.”
“Underserved communities” is the Democrat euphemism for poor communities.
“Not only should gas stoves be made safer for consumers, but consumers should be provided with sufficient information about potential health hazards and risks in advance of any purchase so they can make informed decisions about whether or not to install a gas stove in their home,” the attorneys general wrote. “Proper labeling on gas stoves would represent an important step in helping to educate consumers about the health risks associated with gas stoves. Providing this information upfront is essential to enabling consumers to make a fully informed decision.”
Signing the letter were the AGs of District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and the City of New York.
New York State recently banned new gas appliances in new construction and Berkeley, Calif. has done the same.
