AUGUST 26, 2009
6:33 P.M. ET
Refusal to Fix Act Hardly Inspires Trust
Congress's refusal to fix the Consumer Product Safety and Improvement Act ("Consumer Product Destruction," Review & Outlook, Aug. 12) is, if possible, even more irresponsible than the original legislation. Intended to protect children from lead paint in Chinese toys, the law has resulted in both huge losses and new regulatory costs on industries ranging from motorcycle and ATV manufacturers to toy makers and retailers. Many of these products pose little or no risk of lead-poisoning to children—or anyone else. Yet faced with a real problem—one it created and which it alone has the power to undo—Congress does nothing.
This should serve as a warning to the rest of us as lawmakers seek to ram through massive climate and health-care legislation. The CPSC shows that the unintended consequences of crisis-driven lawmaking are often worse than the original problem—if it was a problem. Don't count on Congress to correct its mistakes.
Eric Havill
Branchport, N.Y.
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2 comments:
I just read an article on line about CPSC giving Mattel a pass on third party testing. I have been quietly following this blog since it started, trying to deal day to day with this absurd law... this is just too much. ... everyone out there like me needs to step up. Someone has got to bring attention to this insanity ... it has to change. Thank you, Rick, for all you are doing ... but the rest of us that are being affected need to step in.
I honestly cannot believe that Mattel has been allowed to forgo
3rd party testing, but apparel vendors who make goods that have never and will never have lead, are still required to perform 3rd party testing.
Why not exempt the categories that pose no threat? Instead, they are exempting the very company that caused CPSIA legislation to begin with! How can this be?
It has already caused legitimate businesses to close their doors, which is hardly what the economy and small business needs....
I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir, and am thankful that people like Rick and the AAFA are advocating on behalf of small business.
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