Editorial: Product safety not a priority for Bush

Friday, Aug. 10, 2001 | 10:07 a.m.

It's a shame that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has become a political football following a Senate panel's rejection last week of President Bush's nominee to be the agency's chairwoman. Although it was a party-line vote, the Senate Commerce Committee wisely rejected the nomination of Mary Sheila Gall. As a current member of the commission, Gall has had a poor record, siding too often with companies instead of with consumers.

Shortly after the rejection the White House decided to engage in retribution, saying it had the authority to fire the current chairwoman, Ann Brown, a Democrat appointed by Bill Clinton. In a conciliatory gesture, Brown said she would resign by Nov. 1 -- five years before her term expires. But that wasn't good enough for Bush, who may try to remove Brown as soon as next week. The president should stop this nonsense. Instead he should forward a nominee to the Senate who understands the agency's mission, which is to stand up for consumers and insist on safe products.