ACTIVISM: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

[Esther]

re: Special interest groups that supported the legislation. I have heard that the Consumers Union (aka Consumer Reports) lobbied for it. Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer introduced the pthalate ban based off the California ban. In the congressional record there is a list of various special interests that supported the pthalate ban. How much of an influence they had is hard to say. It is curious to see that there was virtually no major manufacturers or trade groups involved in that one aspect.

Special Interest Groups in support of the pthalate ban. (list posted below)

[Miracle]

@ Esther,

In that case, once we get an accurate letter, I'll be working to send it to those two and our local talk radio, which I know has their ears.

Again, I'm not against safety regulations, just unnecessary duplication of efforts (and general legislative stupidity).

[Esther]

Hmmm. I will post the list here. It's long, so Kathleen may want to place it somewhere else.

[Kathleen F.]

I don't know what anyone else is thinking but frankly, the phthalates is a battle I can't scare up the motivation to fight. Few of us need that in our products anyway. I saw product samples that use phthalates...call me an elitist but man, these were the tackiest of the tackiest products. Cheap cheap cheap laminated sandals, not even sewn but glued or plastic injection molded, what you'd find for sale at wal-mart or payless for $5.99. I think going after phthalates splinters us when so few of us need plastics in our products. If you're making vinyl bibs or art smocks, or sleepers with footies, it's time to get into something else.

I think we should focus on lead and consider lobbying the organizations who supported that legislation and let the huge importers tussle it out over phthalates.

[Kathleen F.]

sheesh...boy, there's much to discuss...I'm actually wondering if it came out of Illinois. Long long story (nothing to do with obama).

Apparently, the AG (AGs of all states are charged with enforcement btw, not just the feds) of IL and her #2 iare bucking for position politically. The IL statutes are stricter than CA in many respects. The age limit there is ****16****! The AG has made noises about not preempting to the federal rules.

[Kathleen F.]

Okay, I've heard back from Rick Woldenberg (the toy guy in the videos) and he sent me a whole slew of stuff. I will be posting these [url=//fashion-incubator.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=19530#19530]over here[/url]. It's a lot of material and attached files so give me time. There's also tons of email addresses to harvest.

The hearing we'd been pinning our hopes on next Wednesday, has been canceled. This is very bad news.

[annika]

Does he know why it was cancelled? And it wasn't rescheduled at all? This sucks.

[Esther]

Joseph - I never suggested such a thing. Miracle wanted to know who supported the bill, especially special interests. I had run across the list (primarily in support of the pthalate ban) when reading the congressional record. As I said before it is interesting to note that no industry related trade groups or scientists were involved. The bill was rushed through because of emotionalism and resulted in the mess we are in. Normally a bill of this magnitude sits in committee for a long time gathering testimony from interested parties. There was very little of that here.

Re: with state AG's being required to enforce this law it kind of nullifies the concept of selling locally only. I can see this inclusion of that requirement going to the US Supreme Court. I find it unusual that state AG's are being asked to enforce federal law. It may be a violation of state's rights, which until recently has had precedence over federal at the state level. I am not a legal expert, so maybe it means nothing, but it may be grounds for a challenge. While it would be expected for a state AG to uphold federal law, it is out of their jurisdiction since violations would go to federal court not state. In any event, the law has been passed and I think we are going to have a huge fight for and against this thing.

Very cool to hear from Woldenberg.

[Pamela]

As far as I understand it phthalate testing is not required on textiles, only flammability and lead. Has anyone seen differently on this?

Pam

[Pamela]

It is very sad to see how our children will actually be denied some wonderful products due to this hastily implemented law. Selectra brand is ceasing production to the US after December 31 2008.

http://www.zrecommends.com/detail/breaking-news-selecta-to-cease-us-distribution-due-to-cspia/

Pam

[Robin B]

WASHINGTON - One of President Barack Obama's first acts as president was to order federal agencies to halt all pending regulations until his administration can review them.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28758810/

[Robin B]

Technically not "pending" is it. Poot.

[Alison Cummins]

Interesting.

The law has been passed by Congress, but CPSIA still gets to make the rules and regulations to apply the law. I guess that means that CPSIA will not be able to issue any exemptions right away.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasi-legislative

[Kathleen F.]

I pretty much knew the answer to this one but hoping I was wrong, I asked Jennifer Taggert. We're actually more screwed than before. We're stuck with CPSIA because it's law and worse, those exemptions we were looking for (natural materials, electronics etc) are technically pending and so, have been suspended.

[senecahart]