Senate Leaders Say The Votes For Permanent Daylight Saving Time May Not Be There

(KMDL-FM) The prospect of never having to "spring forward" or "fall back" is a popular notion in America, or so we thought. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy, in a conversation with Reuters, seemed to suggest the "wildly popular idea" might not have the support for passage in the Senate.

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Kennedy, in the interview with Reuters, explained that President Donald Trump had contacted him and asked for his support of the Sunshine Protection Act. That's the legislation that would effectively move the country to permanent Daylight Saving Time.

In that Reuters article, Kennedy is quoted as saying he believes the legislation is in for a "dog fight".  Senate Majority Leader John Thune, in an interview last week, seemed unsure whether the bill had the support it needed to pass in the Senate.

Similar legislation has already been passed by the House of Representatives, but Thune, in his comments, seemed to suggest that there might not be 60 Senators willing to support the measure. Thune, in an interview with NBC News, mentioned that the idea of permanent Daylight Saving Time had been tried before and was repealed after constituents did not like it.

Louisiana, 18 Other States, Poised to Do Away With Bi-Annual Time Change

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If the decision is made and the legislation is passed, there are 19 states, Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, that have legislation in place to follow the lead of the federal government with Daylight Saving Time.

Currently, most of Arizona and Hawaii are the only two states that don't participate in the bi-annual time change. States could "opt out" of the Sunshine Protection Act, but they would need to make their case for exemption before the legislation takes effect, assuming it would pass.

Why Are People Opposed to Permanent Daylight Saving Time?

The concerns expressed by those who are opposed to the Sunshine Protection Act have to do with the darkness in the morning hours, which, under the current time change scenario, is not an issue.

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However, during the winter months when the amount of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere is decreased, that's when the concerns over school children going to school in the dark and morning commuters spending most of their drive in darkness will be most prevalent.

When Will the Sun Rise and Set During Permanent Daylight Saving Time?

Just to give you an idea of what sunrise and sunset times would look like under Permanent Daylight Saving Time. Currently, the earliest sunrise and sunset in New Orleans when Daylight Saving Time ends are 6:57 am for sunrise and 5:00 pm for sunset.

READ MORE: Louisiana Prison Implicated in Drone Smuggling Operation

Under the Sunshine Protection Act, the earliest sunrise would occur an hour later, 7:57 am, while sunset would shift to 6 pm. The proposal basically shifts more daylight into the afternoon hours, which some have argued could be beneficial in other ways.

As of this report, the United States Senate has not scheduled a vote on the Sunshine Protection Act. That same body is set to go on vacation, excuse me, recess for five weeks beginning August 8th. Don't be surprised if there is very little movement on the issue between now and September.

READ MORE: When is the First Day of School in Your Parish?

And just in case the Senate opts not to move forward with the Sunshine Protection Act, you might be interested to know the "fall back" date for the clocks is November 1st. And since you won't be able to fall asleep anyway, why not get something to eat? These places are open.