Top Toy Regulator Took Industry-Paid Trips

Washington Post: Current, Former Heads Of Product Safety Agency Accepted Trips From Manufacturer Groups

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Elizabeth Williamson.

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The chief of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and her predecessor have taken dozens of trips at the expense of the toy, appliance and children's furniture industries and others they regulate, according to internal records obtained by The Washington Post. Some of the trips were sponsored by lobbying groups and lawyers representing the makers of products linked to consumer hazards.

The records document nearly 30 trips since 2002 by the agency's acting chairman, Nancy Nord, and the previous chairman, Hal Stratton, that were paid for in full or in part by trade associations or manufacturers of products ranging from space heaters to disinfectants. The airfares, hotels and meals totaled nearly $60,000, and the destinations included China, Spain, San Francisco, New Orleans and a golf resort on Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Notable among the trips - commonly described by officials as "gift travel" - was an 11-day visit to China and Hong Kong in 2004 by Stratton, then chairman. The $11,000 trip was paid for by the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory, an industry group based in an office suite in Bethesda whose only laboratories are in Asia.

The CPSC says that at the time, the group had no pending regulatory requests. But since then the fireworks group has urged the commission to adopt its safety standards, an idea that is still pending, according to an organization newsletter.

Consumer groups and lawmakers intensified their criticism of the CPSC this summer after several highly publicized recalls of Chinese-made toys that contained hazardous levels of lead. Critics have long charged that the agency has become too close to regulated industries, opting for "voluntary" standards and repeatedly choosing not to take legal action against businesses that refuse to recall dangerous products.

Government-wide travel regulations state that officials from agencies such as the CPSC should not accept money for travel from nonfederal sources if the payments "would cause a reasonable person . . . to question the integrity of agency programs or operations."

But CPSC officials defend the industry-paid trips as a way for the agency to be in contact with manufacturing officials and hear their concerns despite a limited travel budget. Commission spokeswoman Julie Vallese said the agency's counsel and its ethics officers conducted "a full conflict-of-interest analysis" of the trips and stand behind their decisions.

"The mission of the agency and the benefits to consumer safety are two factors that are taken into consideration in approving gift travel," she said. Reports of the trips are submitted to the Office of Government Ethics, she added.

Several ethics experts and lawyers say the two administrators' travel records, some of which they reviewed at the request of The Post, suggest a conflict of interest.

"This is a blatant violation of the ethics code," said Craig Holman, an expert on governmental ethics law for the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen. The rules allow nonfederal sources to pay for trips, "but not if you're a private party with business pending before the agency," he said.

The agency's travel patterns during the Bush administration, detailed in internal agency documents, differ from those of the Clinton era. Ann Brown, who served as chairman from 1994 to 2001, traveled only at the expense of the agency or of media organizations that sponsored appearances where she announced product recalls, according to the documents provided.

"We hated to have an industry pay for our staff for anything," said Pam Gilbert, a lawyer who was executive director of the agency under Brown.

The records show that Nord and Stratton repeatedly accepted gift travel for events from industries subject to CPSC enforcement. In February 2006, the Toy Industry Association provided Nord with rail fare, two nights in a hotel, meals - and even $51 to pay her Union Station parking bill - to attend the American International Toy Fair in New York, one of the industry's biggest product exhibitions.

Joan Lawrence, the association's vice president who oversees toy safety, said that "I have heard some enforcement officials say that they consider attending vital" because "they are able to see new products before they hit retail shelves" and suggest safety improvements. She added that "approximately 50 percent of the CPSC budget is used for children's products."

But Lawrence could not say why, given the importance of the event and the industry, the agency did not pay for its own travel. "If they came up with the money, that's okay," she said. "The educational component, of course, is our priority, and that's why we pay for the chairman."

Vallese, the CPSC spokeswoman, said Nord gave two speeches at the meeting, toured "new toy exhibits," watched "product demonstrations" and participated in "product safety discussions."

In a presentation to a trade group of product regulators and manufacturers last year, Nord said the agency was "working aggressively" to limit deaths from residential fires and carbon monoxide poisoning, according to an account published on the group's Web site. She noted that "fuel-fired heating equipment" is linked to more than 300 deaths a year.

Makers of that equipment are represented by the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association, for which Stratton, Nord's predecessor, was a guest speaker at two annual meetings. In 2003 Stratton spoke at the group's meeting on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. In 2005, he spoke at its annual meeting in Orlando.

[fibonacci_]

The last 27 posts here are from NHProphet.

[starleo146]

I think this woman NORD I believe her name is should be fired immediately, no ifs, and, or buts, What is she thinking and how dare she go to bed with the toymakers and they fly her there in private jets!!!! What does someone have to do in this administration to get punished for illegal acts and to he11 with the children of the United States. Where is the outrage???? Mothers do your stuff write your legislatures demand punishment and firing of these people without hesitation, our children and future depend on your outrage. If Congress can play with these guys lets show them who we are NO MORE OF THIS PROFIT on our children''''s lives, NO MORE.How many mothers in this country and if some do not have computers organize in your neighborhoods and show congress we have the guts to stand up.Babies are affected as well Fisher Price, Mattell,Why are they over there cheap labor and regulation do not apply over there PROFIT, Boycott all toys this year for Christmas. HIT THEM WHERE IT HURTS IN THE POCKETBOOK

Posted by starleo146 at 11:11 AM : Nov 03, 2007

[watcher269-2009]

The Lobbyists and Nancy Nord should be charged with murder for the Kids lives that were lost because of this shameful republican administration letting companies buy them at the safety of our children. Criminal charges need to be filed.

I know Bush will pardon her for her lack of action but maybe that would wake this country up and Impeach the worst president in US history!


Then go after the Food and Drug administraion!!!

[realpatriot1]

i''ve told Santa that all I want for Christmas is safe toys for kids and Nord''s head on a stick.

I hope he''s listening.

[nyckate]

ok - so now its perfectly clear that the Bush Cabal has tainted every single government adminsitration and agency they got their paws on - they are teh most corrupt, least ethical, least moral bunch of thugs we''ve ever been unlucky enough to be stuck with.

[kansas1946]

Another corrupt Republican?
No way, not possible.
Another Republican not looking out for our kids.
No way, not possible.

There is just no way that the Republican party can be as corrupt, immoral, slimey, and arrogant, as it looks. It just ain''t possible, is it??

[alphaa10-2009]

CBS reports, "The chief of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and her predecessor have taken dozens of trips at the expense of the toy, appliance and children''s furniture industries and others they regulate..."
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Its the last year of the Bush regime, yet these dolts still cavort with blatant corruption at the highest levels. Can they spell "conflict of interest"?

I am sure there pressing consumer issues at any golf resort in Hilton Head Island. Just ask Ford...

The CPSC once represented aggressive advocacy for citizens against unsafe products, as its name implies. Now-- like the FDA-- the CPSC is a political rest home, *** to anybody with an offer to pay for a junket or free meal.

And just look at the sincerity gushing from the eyes of Nancy, as she gazes with kindly, tilted head, at the cameras. (How many taxpayer dollars paid for that bit of theatrics coaching, also called "presentation dynamics"?)

[alphaa10-2009]

Simply moving Bush and the GOP back to Crawford should be enough.

Ron Paul boosters plead his positive points, but Paul is basically a Republican who never endorsed all the neocon globalist thinking and money driving Bush.

On the domestic level, however, the distinctions between Bush and Paul get murkier.

For example, both Paul and Bush follow the Grover Norquist view that government is the problem, not the solution. Unfortunately, like most slogans, that doesn''t describe America or the problem.

For example, it is a private, not governmental health insurance system which left America behind Cuba in infant mortality and with 47 million of us uninsured as "subprime" risks.

For example, a private, not public sector mortgage fiasco dropped the DOW 250 points and left 500,000 Americans foreclosed out of their own homes-- all due to fine print and the "wisdom" of the market.

And corruption? So many topics, so little space, but here-- a huge glut of no-bid taxpayer dollars shoved at the private sector has left New Orleans reconstruction woefully behind schedule, with widespread waste and corruption and the city still exposed to the next Katrina.

[aerodog]

Give her a lead-laced toy to chew on.

[pepperp1]

This folks is disgutsing and proof of this corrupt uneithcal enterprise of Bush Inc and his umberlla group the GOP. Are they too stupid to know how worng and ciminal this is or are they too arrogant to give a hoot whith their ourageuous Republican belief in hteir own entitlement.

The GOP subversion of SCHIP, the unsecured borders, this news on Nord 60 K jaunts paid by the industry she is supposed to be watching, torture the DOJ political corruption and Ukase, the Curveball news, the betrayal of a CIA officer, the fear rhetoric fueling oil revenues for big oil, Libby''s 5 felony convictions for acts while working as a Presidential Adviser and the no bid giveaways to Blackwater and Halliburton that have incurred a massive deficit funded by foreign capital, the non prosecution of Blackwell for tax invasion and possible immunity for Backwater employee who may have murdered.


That my Friends is the Bush- Cheney LEGACY and with that speech yesterday I actually can one time agree with Representative Kucinich in that the Presidential does appear to have mental health issues, such paranoia and outrageous rhetoric simply can not be blamed on playing to his cult base as the neo con press always does, after all they also missed Regan%u2019s decline as well.

[lochlan-2009]

Fill her full of lead the way the Chinese did for their government official in charge. Firing squad.

[antoniof123]

Everyone we are missing the point life begins at conception and ends at birth.

[antoniof123]

The first words out of her mouth was "I''ve done nothing wrong." Then under her breath she said "for the last 5 seconds."

[simonsez40]

The Dems are to be bashed for not doing enough to stand up to the worst, most corrupt and arrogant administration the nation has ever had to suffer. I hope you conservatives realize they will be an albatross around your next for decades to come (while we try and dig ourselves out of the massive debt they''''''''ve created.)

Posted by roger_inkart at 12:45 PM : Nov 02, 2007

HELLO EARTH TO ROGER_INKART - where have you been for 7 years. Did you know that the House has been ruled by the MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS........I think you might need to pull your head out of your arse!

The reason our nation is in this PICKLE is because of your wonderful Repug representation - all Bush cronys, buddies, business partners and partners in crime.

Thank you dear Republicans for showing me what the Christian Conservative party can do.........uh NO THANKS!

[ioweign]

The Dems are to be bashed for not doing enough to stand up to the worst, most corrupt and arrogant administration the nation has ever had to suffer. I hope you conservatives realize they will be an albatross around your next for decades to come (while we try and dig ourselves out of the massive debt they''''ve created.)

Posted by roger_inkart at 12:45 PM : Nov 02, 2007

If you have been minority party you do not control the committees and that is where the oversight is - notice how Bush is now complaining about too many investigations !!

[antoniof123]

"I intend to bring honor back to the White House."

Well, it seems that honor was in the White House this one brought us horror.

In 1954 the Democrats swept to power because of McCarthy, by 1956 the Democrats assumed complete control and McCarthy died in disgrace after being censured. Then came the 40 years that the Republicans remained out of power and that was for a Senator this is a President. I am just wondering what the time frame will be for this screw up. I guess that is the reason why our parents never let them back into power they knew better.

But I mean really did you except anything different from this bunch of misfits.

[finewoven]

"The mission of the agency and the benefits to consumer safety are two factors that are taken into consideration in approving gift travel,"

So what happend with all the safety efforts on these trips? Is this gift travel working? Or should it be called graft travel.

[pepperp1]

The GOP subversion of SCHIP, the unsecured borders, this news on Nerd 60 K jaunts paid by the industry she is supposed to be watching, torture the DOJ political corruption and Ukase, the Curveball news, the betrayal of a CIA officer, the fear rhetoric fueling oil revenues for big oil, Libby''s 5 felony convictions for acts while working as a Presidential Adviser and the no bid giveaways to Blackwater and Halliburton that have incurred a massive deficit funded by foreign capital, the non prosecution of Blackwell for tax invasion and possible immunity for Backwater employee who may have murdered.


That my Friends is the BUSH LEGACY and with that speech yesterday at the Freedom neo con Institute I actually can one time agree with Representative Kucinch in that the President does appear to have mental health issues, such paranoia and outrageous rhetoric simply can not be blamed on playing to his cult base as the neo con press always does, after all they also missed Regan%u2019s decline as well.

[roger_inkart]

Where have Pelosi and Reid travelled in the last five years?
Posted by RingADing3 at 12:34 PM : Nov 02, 2007

It should be a matter of public record. I''ve no doubt Drudge and the other rightwing media maggots would be shrieking about it every chance they got if it was paid for by lobbyists or corporations they could have influence with.

The Dems are to be bashed for not doing enough to stand up to the worst, most corrupt and arrogant administration the nation has ever had to suffer. I hope you conservatives realize they will be an albatross around your next for decades to come (while we try and dig ourselves out of the massive debt they''ve created.)

[ioweign]

It is all about the UNION Thugs protecting their turf! The UNION thugs want everything made in the USA where their members get exhorbitant wages, raise the prices of goods and services we pay. The UNION BOSSES get paid for doing NOTHING, and pay off the politicians to pass laws that favor UNIONs and their Muscle Strongarms. Where have Pelosi and Reid travelled in the last five years?

Posted by RingADing3 at 12:34 PM : Nov 02, 2007

Your screen name should be DingALing3 !

Just how did the UNION Thugs get this DingALing to accept these trips and travel arrangements.

Oh - were they foreign UNION Thugs from China ??