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Monday, August 20, 2007

In New York, Spitzer Picks up Bush's Slack

New York Governor Elliot Spitzer is using state law to enforce a mandatory recall of children's toys contaminated by lead paint. Mattel has been forced to recall about 20 million toys this month. However, due to the nature of the federal regulatory system for product safety, those recalls are voluntary.

In a statement, the governor said, "The federal government's limited powers of enforcement and voluntary recalls are not enough to protect our children from the dangers of lead poisoning and other hazards." Spitzer goes on to blame the priorities of the Bush administration. The statement calls the federal regulator, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, "woefully understaffed and underfunded."

In related news, Los Angeles Times writer David Lazarus has an aptly titled column: "Gaping holes in product safety net." Lazarus describes in more detail the problems with CPSC's reliance on voluntary recalls.

He also reminds us of the disregard with which President Bush treats product safety. CPSC has been without a commissioner for over a year, and President Bush seems to be in no hurry to nominate a suitable candidate. Worse, Bush keeps slashing the budget of CPSC. (The agency's staff is less than half of what it was 30 years ago, according to Lazarus.)

Both stories get down to the idea of the responsibility of government. Congress creates agencies like CPSC to respond to public crises. When 20 million dangerous toys could be in the hands of 20 million children, government — not industry — should be calling the shots.

Reg•Watch Update: Letting Industry Take the Lead, MSHA, OSHA and compliance assistance.