Conversations with Consumers

The words continue to fly at CPSC. My colleagues issued a statement responding to mine from a few weeks ago on the proposed updates to our rule on certificates of compliance. They disagree with parts of my analysis and accuse me of playing politics with the rest. While I still would like our new sport of statement tennis abandoned, I cannot let such personal attacks go unanswered, so I responded.

My colleagues question my motives for opposing their approach under 2008’s Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. My motives are what they have always been—I seek public deliberation that leads to prudent regulation that enhances consumer safety. That my colleagues have reacted to my engagement in the debate with such mischaracterization is unfortunate; we owe it to the consumers we protect and the companies we regulate to debate the merits of policies, not each other’s motives.