Bush Nominee: No To Safety Standards

President Bush has nominated Michael Baroody, executive vice president of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)--the very organization that NAM has consistently sought to undermine.

During Baroody’s tenure at NAM, his organization has:

• Opposed a CPSC Proposal to improve safety standards for baby walkers. Instead, NAM blamed parents for improperly supervising their children.

• Opposed trying to improve the system by which consumers learn about recalls of potentially dangerous children’s products.

• Lobbied to weaken the guidelines that companies used to determine whether they must report substantial product hazards; and

• Lobbied New York Governor George Pataki to veto legislation that mandated fire safe cigarettes.

Eight consumer groups have united to oppose Baroody’s nomination. A grassroots campaign is asking senators to “Oppose Nominating the Guy Who Hates Product Safety As Head of Product Safety.” His confirmation hearing is tentatively scheduled for May 3.

The CPSC has the authority to set safety standards, require labeling, order recalls, ban products, collect death and injury data, and inform the public about consumer product safety. It has at least 15,000 products under its jurisdiction, including many products used by children, like strollers, swings, cribs, high chairs, baby walkers and toys.

There are more than 27,000 deaths and 33 million injuries each year associated with the consumer products that CPSC is supposed to monitor. In recent years, the agency’s budget and staff have been slashed.

Comments (7) «

So Bush wants part of his legacy to be known as a baby killer?

1

SandyH on April 30, 2007 at 01:27 PM

In w`s world the mice need to guard the cheese. Just like having Porter Goss head the C.I.A.. Every time you turn he is stooping to greater depths.His mission must be to completely unravel this country!? You have to go looking under rocks to find these people.

2

virgo on April 30, 2007 at 03:52 PM

I'm really getting tired of the games like these that have become an expected affair from the Bush administration. It is as though he believes most in eliminating accountabily. Can you just imagine how bad off our nation would be if accountability had never been an issue? Hell, we would still be Brits.

3

Marine on April 30, 2007 at 05:49 PM

Typical Bushie cronyism. Every single appointee this man makes is an enemy of the people.

Come on Nancy Pelosi, put impeachment on the table. This turkey Bush has got to go.

4

rjsnj on April 30, 2007 at 06:54 PM

I am no longer surprised to the depths Bush will go to attack the average American and belittle the process of appointments.

Next, we'll see Bin Laden heading the Department of Homeland Security.

5

jmichaelman on April 30, 2007 at 10:27 PM

Impeach!

6

virgo on May 1, 2007 at 09:24 AM

And this surprises whom? The Bushiato strikes again.
One more step toward turning a first-world nation into a third-world oligarchy.
INVESTIGATE!! IMPEACH!! INDICT!!!

7

Butte on May 1, 2007 at 11:34 AM

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