CPSC budget: Reading between the lines

It doesn’t take much reading between the lines in the latest proposed federal budget to learn what the Bush administration thinks of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The budget proposal for fiscal 2008 boosts the agency’s  current budget by $880,000 to $63,250,000. In this era of relatively low inflation and high budgetary demands, that may sound sufficient. But when mandatory salary and benefits increases are taken into account, what the increase really means is a staff reduction of 19 employees, bringing the agency’s total to 401 full-time employees. We’ll do the math for you: that’s a 4.5 percent cut in staff.  This will make the third consecutive year of cuts for the agency; in 2005, the agency had 471 full-time employees; in 2006, 440 and this year, 420.

Even the CPSC admits that the staff reduction will have an impact on the agency’s mission. We quote from the agency's budget document:

“The 2008 funding level will challenge the commission’s ability to maintain its existing level of standards development, enforcement, public information and international activities.” The budget also states: “With fewer people, some work will be slowed down or deferred in 2008. Further staff reductions may also force reduction of the targets for CPSC’s annual and strategic goals.” 

The agency adds that staff reductions will be done through attrition.

The agency said it still intends to stick to two previously set strategic goals: reduce the death rate from both fires and carbon monoxide poisonings by 20 percent by 2013. However, it said, reducing child drowning deaths will no longer be a top strategic goal, given the resource limitations and limited ability to develop further technical remedies. The agency will continue however to try to reduce the risk for should this be through public information efforts.

As we have written before, the CPSC is already operating with its hands tied. Former chairman Hal Stratton left seven months ago and the White House has not yet named a replacement. As a result, the agency no longer has a quorum. So until a new chairman is confirmed, the CPSC cannot vote on new safety standards (the agency can, however, levy civil penalties of up to $50,000).

Put that together with the proposed 2008 budget, and it's clear that the agency has some real hurdles to overcome to keep fulfilling its mission.

Just how much support will the agency get from the new Democratic Congress? We hope to get an idea today, when the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government is holding a hearing on consumer issues, with heads of both the Federal Trade Commission and CPSC slated to testify. Also scheduled to testify are three consumer groups, including Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. Stay tuned.

Comments

[Eric Wolfram]

What would we do without the CPSC telling us helpful stuff like "Use Portable Generators Outdoors Only"

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08125.html

Now THAT'S 62 million well spent.

[Amanda]

The government makes each social worker and case worker all around Missouri do the work load of 3 people, giving them more than they can handle because the budget is not there. They even have to pay for their own pens and whiteout and office supplies. If you are concerned about one agency of the governemtn, you need to be concerned about other government workers as well.