In case you were one of the few people left in this country that isn't jaded by politics, let me help. Last week the CPSC Commissioners, at the urging of various high ranking politicians, agreed that there should be a retroactive stay in enforcement of the CPSIA on children's all terrain vehicles (ATVs).
Now consider this.....
- ATVs do in fact have lead levels ABOVE the levels allowed by the CPSIA. They get a stay.
- Lead levels in materials used by crafters and natural products companies have lead levels far below the threshold (non-detectable in most cases). What do we get? Ignored. (okay, we got a limited stay on some materials last February which, when you read it, doesn't help much at all).
Do I think the CPSC made the wrong decision? No. I support the stay. But I don't think it should be limited to ATVs.
Common sense is common sense. Economic loss is economic loss. Lost jobs are lost jobs. Closed businesses are closed businesses. Stupid laws are stupid laws. Why break it down and help out the guys that can afford expensive lobbyists, while ignoring the work at home mom, or the small business that is trying to bring a quality product to the market?
Then again, what good does a stay do anyone in this environment? The CPSC really doesn't count that much for anything anymore. California does what it wants. If it, or the other 49 states want to flex their muscle...they flex it. The CPSC is nothing more than on regulatory agency running around among 50 other newly appointed agencies under the name of each state AG. Who has the ultimate say? I certainly don't know. I bet they don't either. Nancy Nord says she hopes the States will follow the CPSC on the stay. It's good to have hope in this day and age...but to run a business I need more than hope for a regulatory plan.
In my recent meetings in Washington I met with a Legislative Aide and he insisted that the AGs were necessary to augment the CPSC's ability to enforce the CPSIA. I suggested that maybe, just maybe, they could have put in wording to require the AGs to work with or through the CPSC rather than as lone wolves. He thought for a moment and said "you have a point." Well, this point is an important one.
I don't think it will be resolved easily, but for any business in the huge children's products market to do business in a reasonable fashion, let alone stay in business, it must be resolved. But then, I don't know that that is a concern for our leaders on Washington.
Want to read more about the ATV with more reasons to be really annoyed with the CPSIA and Washington? Read Rick Woldenberg's blog post from yesterday.
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