What’s the Deal With the Time Change?

Oregon passed a law to keep the state on daylight saving time. Why do we keep switching? That law applies only if the other states on the West Coast go the same route (Washington passed a similar law; California voters passed a ballot measure urging the change). But also Congress has to pass a law allowing it — time is regulated at the federal level. 



If that seems next to impossible, Oregon is not alone; 19 states have passed a law or resolution to keep their state on daylight saving time. And in an age of bipartisan warring, the unlikely happened earlier this year: the Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act on bipartisan lines. But then the U.S. House didn’t act on the bill. So it’s going nowhere for now. 



Is there another way? The twice-annual time changes have been blamed for an increase in heart attacks, suicides, and workplace injuries.Notably, states are allowed to opt out and stay on standard time year-round. Two — Arizona and Hawaii — do; that’s partly been attributed to their location closer to the equator, with lots more sun in winter. And there are plenty of advocates for sticking to standard time. But so far, there’s no action on that front.