Spot the Republican Bush Appointee

[Scriptor Ignotus]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/washington/30cnd-consumer.html?ex=1351396800&en=02f835b79680d81d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Strengthening of Consumer Agency Opposed by Its Boss
By STEPHEN LABATON

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 — The top official for consumer product safety has asked Congress in recent days to reject legislation that would strengthen the agency that polices thousands of consumer goods, from toys to tools.

On the eve of an important Senate committee meeting to consider the legislation, Nancy A. Nord, the acting chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has asked lawmakers in two letters not to approve the bulk of legislation that would increase the agency’s authority, double its budget and sharply increase its dwindling staff.

Ms. Nord opposes provisions that would increase the maximum penalties for safety violations and make it easier for the government to make public reports of faulty products, protect industry whistleblowers and prosecute executives of companies that willfully violate laws.

The measure is an effort to buttress an agency that has been under siege because of a raft of tainted and dangerous products manufactured both domestically and abroad. In the last two months alone, more than 13 million toys have been recalled after tests indicated lead levels of almost 200 times the safety ceiling.

Ms. Nord’s opposition to key elements of the legislation is consistent with the broadly deregulatory approach of the Bush administration. In a variety of areas, from antitrust to trucking and worker safety, officials appointed by President Bush have sought to reduce the role of regulation and government in the marketplace.

/snip

[Gloria]

1. The good old CPSC....about 25 years ago I worked for United States

Testing Company and one of my projects was overseeing testing of child safety caps on bottles for the CPSC. Manufacturers would send me bottles and I would set up the tests in nursery schools, then report the results to the CPSC. If even one cap failed, it was back to the drawing board for the manufacturer....but that was then!!

[wtmusic]

2. interesting

I remember the whole gamut of safety bottle caps since the sixties.

We'll have the Bush administration to thank for future generations poisoned by lead...:(