October 31, 2007 The Pump Handle 0Comment

After Consumer Product Safety Commission acting chair Nancy Nord opposed Senate legislation designed to strengthen the agency, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling for Nord’s resignation. The Washington Post’s Annys Shin has the story:

Pelosi said Nord’s position on the bill makes her the wrong person to lead the agency. “Any commission chair who, in the face of the facts that are so clear, says we don’t need any more authority or any more resources to do our job does not understand the gravity of the situation,” Pelosi said.

Or maybe Nord does understand the gravity of the situation, but cares more about businesses’ bottom lines than consumer safety.

Many of Nord’s arguments were echoed yesterday by a coalition of business groups that includes the National Association of Manufacturers, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association and the National Retail Federation.

“Our concern is the bill as drafted will lead to additional litigation without protecting the consumers from unsafe products,” said Edward D. Krenik, a lobbyist for the Power Tool Institute. “We hope changes will be made as the process continues.”

The Senate Commerce Committee approved the bill by a voice vote.

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