DeSantis Holds Left’s Feet to the Fire on Gas Stoves

Americans are rallying in defense of their gas stoves, prompting the left to deny such plans exist and dismiss such talk as conspiracy theories. Rather than backing off, the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, is pressing the advantage, demonstrating the political savvy that’s made him the strongest Republican alternative to President Trump.In an interview with Bloomberg, a commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Richard Trumka, set off the firestorm by warning about gas stoves. “This is a hidden hazard,” he said. “Any option is on the table. Products that can’t be made safe can be banned.”The article said that natural gas emits “air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter.” A legitimate concern, but one ameliorated — as a vice president of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, Jill Notini, told Bloomberg — by adequate ventilation.Mr. Trumka called it “a carefully manicured myth” that gas is required for “fine dining.” As the author of “Regional Greek Cooking,” I can tell you that the 1930s phrase “now you’re cooking with gas” is for reasons of efficiency and temperature control. That is why co-host of the SoCal Restaurant Show, Chef Andrew Gruel, taped himself to his gas range in protest. As consumers howled, Mr. Trumka’s agency backed off, and the narrative became that the GOP was stoking baseless fears. One Democratic congressman, Marc Veasey of Texas, tweeted, “Republicans all over Twitter lying and being dishonest over gas stoves,” followed by a crying-laughing emoji.On MSNBC, the Recount’s John Heilemann railed against Republicans for pushing “bull—-t” and “conspiracy theories,” ignoring precedents such as the governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, seeking an “eventual ban on gas furnaces and stoves in new buildings,” according to Politico.New York City already forbids gas appliances in new buildings. “More than 50 municipalities in California have all-electric building codes,” The City reports, “and other cities, including Seattle and Ithaca, are advancing electrification in new buildings.”Despite these facts, the name calling caused most Republicans to back off, until Mr. DeSantis on Tuesday. During remarks where he announced plans to “make, basically, raising kids tax free” by removing the charge on everything from diapers to cribs, the governor appeared to go off script.“We may even say no tax on gas stoves coming up this year,” Mr. DeSantis said. This drew applause, demonstrating that the topic has become a touchstone for government overreach. The governor took the temperature of the audience and warmed to the subject.“We’ll do that,” Mr. DeSantis said. “That’s fine with me. I want you to be able to have a choice,” something that not so long ago was seen as advancing the green agenda. Just last summer, the European Commission confirmed that burning natural gas remains in line with its climate goals.Residents of states like Florida, which lies in Hurricane Alley, know that storms can knock out power, making the ability to heat homes, cook, and boil water life-saving essentials — not to mention the need to take a long, hot shower after wading through toxic floodwaters.When Mr. Heilemann said that the gas stove issue is “great politics if all you care about is feeding your base,” he was half right. The issue is smart campaigning, but it reaches beyond committed Republicans to the 40 percent of American homes with gas ranges, and choice is central to our national psyche.There’s also the phenomenon of “Hank Hill Democrats” identified by author Brian C. Anderson in 2005. Named for the cartoon propane salesman of TV’s “King of the Hill,” it’s the sort of Democrat in states like Mr. Hill’s Texas who remain open to voting Republican when his party veers too far left.Issues that seem small often pay big dividends for politicians who harness the public mood. Mr. Trumka took the gas ban out of the oven before it was fully cooked and forced the left to put it on the back burner, but by refusing to let the matter drop, Mr. DeSantis has proven that he’s that rare Republican candidate: one who’s cooking with gas.

DeSantis Holds Left’s Feet to the Fire on Gas Stoves

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