Consumer safety chief is against expansion - you can't make this shit up

[spanone]

<snip>
She was critical, for instance, of a provision to ban lead from all toys, saying it was not practical.

WASHINGTON - The nation's top official for consumer product safety has asked Congress in recent days to reject legislation intended to 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 chairwoman 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.

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 whistle-blowers, and prosecute executives of companies that willfully violate laws.
http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2007/10/30/consumer_safety_chief_is_against_expansion?mode=PF

[JFN1]

1. It's freaking crazy

What is this - Bizarro America?

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Typical Republican ploy - put people who hate something in charge of that something.

HUD, safety, Interior, surgeon general, and so on.

Of course. It only makes sense.

[Beetwasher]

3. Why Should They Expand? She's ALREADY Made EVERYTHING Perfectly Safe!

All consumer products are now 100%, perfectly safe! Her job is done! She's amazing! She's the bestest consumer product safety official EVER!

[spanone]

4. and we KNOW the private sector always polices themselves....

that pesky ol government just get in the way of people doing business.:sarcasm:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. Chuck Schumer won't like her

[Ian David]

6. What if the Chinese are not adding lead to the toys...

but if instead, the lead is leaching from the pores of the child slave laborers MAKING the toys?