Positive response from Sen. Johnny Isakson

[Former_Member]

"Thank you for contacting regarding the Consumer Product Safety Act. I appreciate your thoughts and the opportunity to respond.

As you know, on August 8, 2008 President Bush signed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 into law. As the grandfather of seven, I have been very concerned by the recalls of children's toys made in China. I find these toy recalls coupled with other product recalls of tires, shrimp, animal foods, among others is very troubling. This legislation was a response for much needed reform to help ensure the safety of products that are in the hands and mouths of our children.

In the past weeks a provision has come to light that dictates that all products sold to individuals of the ages 12 and younger, including clothing be tested for lead and phthalates, which are chemicals used to make plastics more pliable must be tested. According to the law items that have not been tested will be considered hazardous, whether or not they contain lead. This provision will have a negative impact on small businesses that are in the resale business of children's toys and clothing. As former small business owner I share your concern and frustration.

In the legislation passed by Congress acceptable lead levels in toys were taken down to zero covering any transaction. The language in the bill leaves no grey area negatively impacting small businesses across the nation. I am aware of the difficulty facing small businesses going back to language passed by the Congress and regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. A technical correction of the law is needed to correct this unintended result. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) has requested a statutory delay in the implementation of the law to allow for the needed corrections to be addressed. Rest assured I am working closely with my Senate colleagues to address this issue.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please visit my webpage at http://isakson.senate.gov/ for more information on the issues important to you and to sign up for my e-newsletter.

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson
United States Senator"

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Well, that's the first response I've received from someone that seems to actually "GET" it! I little bit of progress, is still progress!!

[Former_Member]

I like the part where he say's... Rest assured I am working closely with my Senate colleagues to address this issue.

I sure hope it's all of them!

[Former_Member]

Thanks for posting this!

[MomNMiaDesigns]

Wow, someone who actually took the time to address your concern instead of just sending some no-answer form letter!

[chatnoirstudios]

okay...I believe some of them read things now.:)

[Former_Member]

Hope you voted for this guy...

[Former_Member]

Sounds promising.

[NutmegnSassafras]

Wow, good letter. Your Senator is much better than my Senator! :)

[Former_Member]

Okay, now we have a positive response from someone with authority.

I especially like this part:
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) has requested a statutory delay in the implementation of the law to allow for the needed corrections to be addressed. Rest assured I am working closely with my Senate colleagues to address this issue.

[Former_Member]

I am glad to see that people are getting responses from their legislators. I have only received a very vague response that sort of goes like this, "My office has received your request and rest assured we are looking into your concerns." No specifics.

[Former_Member]

A ray of hope - which was built on all the protests we've been doing over the past weeks.

Let's keep the pressure up, folks - we're gonna get this right!

[Former_Member]

Good to know *somebody* there knows how to read!

[Former_Member]

That's the best response shared so far. Congratulations.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

I think it would be interesting to find out if these are newly elected, or retreads. It seems like those that have been around for a long time fire off the inane letters.

[LaurieRyan]

NOW we're getting some where ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See I told you so we'd beat this thing and looks like we will. pats everyone on the back

[LaurieRyan]

Yeh but still keep those cards and letters going to DC to keep reminding them this needs to be addressed

[Former_Member]

I received that response from Sen. Isakson as well and was glad to see it. The one I received from Chambliss was basically the information that second hand retailers have been removed from the certification requirements and nothing about us small business / handmade crafters.

I hope they do take action on this for us and it was positive to see this note.

[Former_Member]

Continuing my posture of "wait and see"....

:D

[happywhosits]

FayeMalone, good point!

Eileen...

[dottiesdream]

I'm proud to say that Joe Barton is my representative and I think he has been in office for awhile. Just moved to his district and didn't get a chance to vote for him, but I did send him a letter. He definitely will get my vote next time.

[CogansCreations]

The note does sound like he might have actually understood the concerns. I also would like to know if he, and the other Senator that he mentioned are newly elected. If not, then they both voted to pass this legislation. If he isn't newly elected, I'm a little concerned about the second paragraph in the response about a provision recently coming to light.....it was there all along, the law hasn't change as far as I knwo, since it was voted on and signed.

Although it is a good thing that some of the DC folks seem to "get it".....it is maddening that they are just now "getting it". It's wrong that their constituents have to point out the flaws, and unintended consequences, or even the wording, in the laws that they enacted. When we get positive responses, and they are from Reps that were not just elected in Nov, we hould be asking them why they voted for the bill to begin with if they truly do understand the affects of it.

[dottiesdream]

I agree that they should have looked more closely at the wording of this bill before voting, but at least some of them are willing to step up and say we made a mistake and it needs to be fixed.

Based on the letters and actions of some, there are people in charge who would never admit a mistake. Those are the ones that really worry me.

[Former_Member]

As for him being newly elected.. not so much... he's been in DC for quite a while... this is from his site..

"Johnny entered politics in 1974 and served 17 years in the Georgia Legislature and three years as Chairman of the Georgia Board of Education. In 1999, Johnny was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the first of three terms before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004. He will be up for reelection to the Senate in 2010."

Saxby just started his second term in the Senate.... but I've met him in person, and personally don't think very highly of him.. even less so after the generic response not addressing any of my concerns.

I am very appreciative of this response though.. it still has been the sole response I received that actually acknowledged what I wrote to them about... This guy defintely gets my vote next go around...

[Former_Member]

The focus of his concern in this response is for the resellers - which is being identified in DC as thrift shops, consignment stores, etc - and not the home craft businesses. It will be all well and good for Congress to act to help the resellers but this will not help us any at all.

It is vital that Congress understand that it is more than just resellers who are going to be out of business due to CPSIA.

[Former_Member]

I'm new here, but I've been reading a lot about this since I am always looking to see what I could buy. I was considering starting to make stuff before this law went through.

Anyway, I'm in GA, and of the two senators, Isakson is very nice. He spoke at my brother's commencement and was very amiable. He's been in the Senate since 2004 and is the better of the two senators from GA. I've received very helpful updates on his input in the bailout bills too. He really does care and attempt to make connections back home.