Guess what appliance the feds want to remove from your home?

You will never guess what the federal government wants to ban from your home. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission wants to remove gas stoves because of concerns that it may be polluting the air in your home and those pollutants can cause respiratory and health issues.

Richard Trumka, agency commissioner says gas stoves are a hazard that people may not know about. He added, all options are on the table. A decision on gas stoves could come this year.

Richard Trumka proposing a possible ban on gas stoves in US homes.

Richard Trumka

It is estimated that about 35% of U.S. homes currently have gas stoves. The EPA says gas stoves can release carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and other matter that the World Health Organization and the EPA say is unsafe because they can cause heart problems, cancer and other health conditions.

The Home Appliance Manufacturers are balking at a possible ban. They say a ban would be ill-advised. They say a ban on gas cooking appliances would eliminate affordable technology. Instead they suggest a focus on increased ventilation would be a better way to solve the problem.

Lets face it, a lot of people would rather cook on a gas stove instead of an electric stove. But Richard Trumka of the consumer product safety commission, says there is a misconception that fine dining kind of cooking has to be done on gas. He called it a carefully manicured myth.

I guess my questions are these:

1. Why is the government telling us what to do? Can't we make up our own minds?

2. What's next, Gas furnaces? Gas hot water heaters?

Your thoughts: pat.frisch@townsquaremedia.com