(WTAQ-WLUK) — It’s that time of year again.
Clocks will be springing forward on Sunday to kick off Daylight Saving time.
We may lose an hour of sleep, but some argue it’s better because we get more daylight.
Now, some in Congress are trying to make it permanent.
Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio, introduced a bill to make daylight saving time permanent across the U.S. last year. It’s called the Sunshine Protection Act.
“The original arguments for going to daylight time was because we would save electricity and save oil,” said Steve Calandrillo, a University of Washington law professor.
It unanimously passed by the Senate. But, no action was taken when it was sent to the House.
Now, Rubio is reintroducing it a second time.
“We looked at it on a state level about six years ago I think,” said Republican State Rep. Ron Tusler.
Republican state Rep. Samantha Kerkman and Rep. Michael Schraa introduced a bill in 2017 that would get rid of daylight saving time in Wisconsin, different from Rubio wanting to keep daylight saving time.
“They shouldn’t do it anymore, I like my sleep,” said Appleton resident Alex Unekis.
Both representatives said the change would save people the hour of sleep they lose in the spring. But they scrapped the bill amid backlash from people on social media who didn’t want their summer evenings shortened.
Rep. Tusler says it also didn’t make much sense at the state level.
“It’s one of those issues that really on the federal level I think it makes a ton of sense,” said Tusler. “At a state level, we wouldn’t do it because logistically it’s very difficult for any company that does interstate business.”
He says some of these companies are crossing state borders constantly.
“And it’s very difficult for anybody that is on one of those borders that has to basically make sure that the time is straight, and here in Wisconsin we’re kind of lucky that all of our neighbors are on the same time zone as we are,” said Tusler.
19 states have already passed a trigger bill to permanently switch to daylight saving time if congress approves the bill, including neighboring Minnesota.
Democratic State Rep. Lori Palmeri is all for Rubio’s bill.
She believes many Wisconsinites can get behind the idea of having more daylight, especially when enjoying time up north.
“It saves energy and people can stay outside and enjoy the day longer,” said Republican Florida Congressman Mike Waltz.
An Associated Press poll found that most people in the U.S. want to avoid switching between daylight saving and standard time. 43% say they would like to see standard time used during the entire year. 32% say they would prefer that daylight saving time be used all year.
No time change is currently observed in two states — Hawaii and most of Arizona.
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