|
|
NEWS
RECALLS
COMPLAINT FORM
SCAM ALERTS
RESOURCES
Small Claims Guide Class Actions Lemon Laws FAQ Newsletters |
Share |
| Automotive Education Employment Electronics Family Finance Health Homeowners Insurance Pets Shopping Travel |
|
|
|
![]() |
Safety Agency Bill Gets Fast-Track TreatmentBut will Bush sign a bill that increases fines and oversight? |
|||||||||||||
|
By Joseph S. Enoch December 18, 2007
After two days of debating a long list of amendments, the committee passed the measure 51-0 this evening and the committee's chair, John Dingell (D-Mich.), said he is going to suggest to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) that the bill be placed on the suspended calendar. Bills on the suspended calendar do not have to go through many of the same rules as most bills – meaning the bill could be passed before the House leaves for the holiday recess, possibly later tonight. The bill passed the committee with such ease because it is a diluted version of the much stronger Senate version of the bill. Many Republicans, including noted pro-business advocate Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), supported this weaker bill from the beginning. The most notable difference is that the Senate bill allows the agency to fine companies up to $100 million versus the House bill which tops out at $10 million. Currently the agency can only fine companies $1.8 million. There is also no whistleblower protection in the House bill and much less public disclosure of business information. Despite the weaker version, some consumer advocates are pleased with the tone of the bill while industry lobbyists see it as excessive and invasive. “It is clear to all of us that something has gone wrong with our current safety system,” Rachel Weintraub, Director of Product Safety at the Consumer Federation of America, said at a hearing to discuss the bill in November. “Your bill, H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act (CPSMA), correctly recognizes that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) – the agency responsible for protecting consumers from unsafe and dangerous products in the marketplace – is broken. H.R. 4040 attempts to remedy this critical problem by increasing the Agency’s resources and legal authorities necessary to keep unsafe products out of the marketplace.” Not glad tidingsBut Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook said the bill was "not glad tidings for consumers." She said it is"inadequate to protect American families" and said the measure:
In a press release, the National Association of Manufacturers said it “reject(s) provisions that would generate increased litigation rather than increased safety.” Most notably, NAM opposes a provision which allows state attorneys general to sue manufacturers that produce dangerous products. Keep it cleanDuring the markup debates, Dingell urged his colleagues not to vote for product-specific amendments because he wanted to keep the bill “clean,” improving its chances of passing. As a result strengthening amendments that would have given the agency authority over fixed thrill rides, pet toys and many others, were withdrawn. The version of the bill that survived the markup includes these major CPSC upgrades:
The next step is for both the House and the Senate versions of these bills to pass their respective floors. The Senate version has been placed on the calendar but there is no time or date yet for a vote. If bills pass both floors, they will go into conference where both sides will work out a compromised bill to send to President Bush for his signature or veto. Political observers say it's quite possible Bush will veto any bill that includes heightened penalties against manufacturers or increases the authority of states to sue product manufacturers. Some have suggested the White House will insist that companies be given immunity from lawsuits if they voluntarily initiate a recall. Report Your Experience
|
|||||||||||||
Advertisement
|
|
Custom Search
|
||||
|
AUTOMOTIVE Dealers Manufacturers Service Extended Warranties Lemon Laws Recalls Tires Transporters FAMILY Aging Children, Parenting Recalls Dating Education Entertainment Pets Weddings |
FINANCE Annuities Banks Credit Cards Debt Collection Debt Counseling Insurance Investing Loans Mortgages Payday Loans Student Loans Tax Prep HEALTH Doctors Drugs, Pharmacies Health Clubs Hearing Care Hospitals Nursing Homes Nutrition, Diets Vision Care Weight Loss |
HOUSE & HOME Appliances Cookware Furniture Home Improvements Lawn & Garden Movers Pools & Spas Realtors, Rental Agents Recalls Utilities ELECTRONICS Cable TV/DBS Cameras Cell Phones Computers Home Electronics Internet Access Local Phone Service Long Distance VoIP |
SHOPPING In-Home Online Retail Stores Sporting Goods Supermarkets Telemarketers TRAVEL Airlines Bus Lines Car Rental Cruises Hotels Travel Agents Trains RESOURCES Class Actions Complaint Form Small Claims Guide Lemon Laws |
CONSUMER NEWS Latest News Automotive Telecom Financial Health Homeowners Scams Seniors Travel More ... RECALLS Automotive Children's Products Drugs Food Household Products Sporting Goods ABOUT US FAQ Privacy Policy Advertise With Us Newsroom Syndication Terms of Use |
Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use
Copyright © 2003-2009 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. All Rights Reserved. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. |
|