As we blogged earlier this month, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been without a quorum since July 2006. This has prevented it from fully addressing all of its responsibilities since January of this year. The agency oversees the safety of thousands of domestic and foreign consumer goods used in homes, schools, and sports.

Life at the agency has become so difficult that one commissioner worries publicly that the agency may not survive, according to an Associated Press (AP) story published today. Commissioner Thomas Moore is quoted as saying that cuts in staffing and budgets have employees worried that the agency may not exist much longer and many are looking for other jobs. The number of full time staff has declined to about 400, half of what it was in 1980.

Both Moore, a Clinton appointee, and Acting Commission Chairwoman Nancy Nord, an appointee of President Bush, support congressional action that could strengthen CPSC's powers and modernize laws related to its functions. Democrats in Congress have proposed legislation to accomplish this and to allow CSPC to function for another six months without a quorum.

The CPSC people have reason to worry. Like the Reagan administration, which sharply cut back staff in the 1980s after businesses complained about the agency, the Bush administration isn't likely to embrace efforts to enhance CSPC's powers. Bush took eight months to nominate Michael Baroody, an industry representative who fought CSPC for years, to fill the current commission vacancy to reach a quorum. It's been two months since Baroody withdrew his nomination in the face of considerable Senate opposition and Bush still hasn't nominated a replacement. Surprised?