Baroody withdraws his nomination to chair CPSC
President Bush's pick to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) withdrew his nomination Wednesday amid strong opposition by consumer groups and some Senate Democrats. According to the Associated Press, the White House said it was reluctantly accepting the decision by Michael Baroody after "some members in the Senate rushed to judgment."
At question was Baroody’s ability to protect public safety considering his current position as the head lobbyist for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), an organization that has fought against product safety regulations. Democrats also raised questions about a $150,000 severance package that Baroody would have received if he left the NAM to chair the CPSC.
A Senate subcommittee hearing on Baroody's nomination had been scheduled for May 24th. Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) wrote Bush last week requesting that Baroody’s nomination be withdrawn. Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) also opposed the nomination.
A coalition of consumer groups including Consumers Union (the publisher of Consumer Reports), the Consumer Federation of America, Pubic Citizen, US Public Interest Research Group, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Kids in Danger, and many others, who had voiced opposition to Baroody’s nomination, supported the withdrawal but expressed the continued need to focus on finding a candidate with a proven track record for protecting the consumer interest.
CU’s Senior Product Safety Counsel, Sally Greenberg, said: “It’s important that the leader of the CPSC be a vigorous advocate for the consumer, and demonstrate a willingness to do whatever necessary to separate consumers from dangerous products. They must be ready to take swift and effective action to reduce injuries and deaths associated with products manufactured both in the US and abroad. The CPSC is an agency with a critical mandate and it’s more important now than ever to select the right leader.”
The White House said it would immediately begin the process of finding "another qualified and committed leader to serve in this important position."
The CPSC will continue to operate without a quorum, having only two of three commissioner positions filled. Although the agency will be able to conduct day-to-day activities including urging manufactures to recall unsafe products, it cannot issue new rules or regulations or levy civil penalties until a new Chairman is confirmed by congress.
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