Bigger Budget? No, Responds Safety Agency

New York Times

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.

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 whistle-blowers 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 that sometimes reached almost 200 times the safety limit.

Ms. Nord’s opposition to important elements of the legislation is consistent with the broadly deregulatory approach of the Bush administration over the last seven years. 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.

Right. Because being a third world economy is good for business. No need to have to spend the proper time, effort, and expense at using safe, harmless materials.

These people really do not give a damn about the average person. All they care about is pushing an ideology that has already proved itself to be a complete failure. From Katrina, to the Southern California fires, to the lack of response to state level emergencies, this government is all about the little man doing for himself. Oh, but still they take the little man's taxes. Where as the top 1% of the richest see their tax burden decreased.

And I keep waiting for that pro-life stance talked about in two election campaigns to show up in action. But all I see is death. With BushCo™ it's all about bombing, killing, destroying. Show me one solid, concrete example of a constructive, productive action on their part. You know, where the policies they enacted have resulted in a decrease in mortality, the saving of lives. If you do, than balance it against all the premature deaths these past 6 years.

If ever there was a candidate for anti-Christ, Bush sure makes the grade.