Senator DeMint is introducing his amendment on Tuesday and needs our help

[Former_Member]

Here is an excerpt from an email I received - we need to help Senator Demint get his amendment to the CPSIA passed through. He's called for our help.

This was posted on a boutique cafe blog post by Senator DeMint's staffer:


Tom Jones Comment from Heather Flottman's Blog
Heather's full post- http://www.boutiquecafe.com/home/2009/01/31/2188/

Heather- you hit the nail on the head here.
First an introduction. I'm Senator DeMint's staffer that handles the CPSC issues for him. A couple quick things.
If your readers could:

1) Call their Senator Monday and let them know that the problems with the CPSIA still exist. There are still liabilities issues out there, its not clear yet what retailers reaction to the order will be (its great to not have to test for a year but if no one will sell your goods that a bit of a hollow victory), PIRG is going to sue to overturn the order and the order doesn’t do anything to deal with State AGs. And of course all the problems come back full-bore in a year. Please try to impress these things on your Senator’s office.

2) When you are on the phone with the office make a very specific ask. Let them know you want the Senator to co-sponsor the DeMint bill. Have their staff contact me. (I work on the Commerce Committee and my email is in the “Global Email Directory.” (they’ll know what that is) I can also be called through the DeMint front office phone line which is 4-6121.) Also let the person on the phone that you’d like a written response on whether the Senator will co-sponsor issue. Finally say thanks for talking to you. The person who answers the phone has the lowest job on the Congressional totem pole and when the phones get hot it can be very stressful. Throwing a little sunlight their way helps.

The main line for Congress is 202-224-3121. Tell the operator which state you are from and ask to speak to one of your Senators. Once you’re done with that, hang up and do it again with the other Senator.

Thanks again for all your help with this. If it wasn’t for you guys being so engaged on this issue, it wouldn’t be moving like it is.

Tom

[starnesstitches]

Thank you littlepinkposies!

[Former_Member]

I'll be on it in the morning!!!!

[Former_Member]

I will do it for sure even tho my Senators are Boxer and Feinstein :(

[LaurieRyan]

and the fight wears on ...............

[honoluluhoneybaby]

Thanks for posting this!

[KGarnerDesigns]

marking

[LaurieRyan]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/
here is also a link to contact our president to ask his help too

[bobbinalong]

This whole postponement is scaring me. I have such a strange feeling about it. It is what I had wanted. But now here we are with the "rushing" again. This is how we got in the first mess, people pushing this through Congress on a rush-rush basis. I can't put my finger on it, but I have a bad feeling about this whole thing. There is something we are just not understanding. Does the CPSC have enough power over Congress to do a postponement? The Commissioner is asking for more money. Is it leverage? Can the Congress say no, no postponement at any time during the coming year? Sounds like it to me.

I apologize. I know everyone is happy. But me! But I am worried. How do you all feel? I guess this postponement is as vague as this law.

[Former_Member]

Bobbin i know what you mean- i am happy but still have this pit in my stomach that something is wrong. I can not help but be cautious. This stay is great and i am happy!

Vintage i have the same senators and never got a response from Boxer. UGH

[Former_Member]

Bobbin -- Are you worried about the legislation DeMint is putting forward? I've read through it and think it answers all of our complaints without weakening the true intentions of the act.

It's not that the CPSC has power over Congress -- Congress wrote the CPSIA to allow the CPSC leeway in their interpretation of the law. From what I understand, it was intentionally written in a vague manner to allow the CPSC the maximum amount of maneuverability in implementation.

Anyway, DeMint's bill helps to better define the CPSC's role and the requirements of small businesses.

Jen

Who emailed both Senators about it today and will call them tomorrow

[Former_Member]

marking

[RebekahsBowtique]

calling Monday! Thanks for posting!

Pam<><

[bobbinalong]

It appeared to me that the letters from Nord and the Commissioner were a response to Congress as Congress was getting bombarded by all of our letters, emails, etc. They both feel they need more money to operate. So how do we know that if Congress should give them some in this stimulus package, they void the postponement and then here we go. I guess if any part of government saw that they couldn't accomplish their job, would they be able to do a postponement. I don't think so. Why in the world didn't the postponement come from Congress itself or in union with the CPSC?

I just don't think, at this point, I want to start making kids' stuff. Why haven't we - all the handcraft people - heard more from Nord? No media that I have seen. There is just something that is making me feel uneasy. I look at the threads and people are eliminating snaps and buttons, etc. We shouldn't have to do that. You would think that the CPSC or some organization would support the handmade crafter instead of imposing so much "law" on them, especially in this economy.

[PENultimateLeotards]

I read this on the Fashion Incubator a bit ago:

1) Apparently we should not celebrate the STAY to quickly. As it stands, the Law goes into force on 02/10. Period.

This proposed FINAL RULE is just a notice that conversations happened and what those conversations entailed).

The rule is being voted on now. It will take about one business week (02/06) to become official.

Then there is a 30-day comment period for the public to raise concerns about the proposed FINAL RULE. Those comments can influence and shape the Final Rule, which is what will be enforced after March 8, 2009.

2) In the meantime the law will go into affect on Feb. 10, 2009 as stated (unless something new happens between now and then.) Meaning that retailers and sellers will have to follow the Feb. 10 guidelines for lead testing.

3) the Consumer Groups began organizing quickly, upon the CPSC's announcement on Friday. It is anticipated that they will file law suits early Monday morning to try to get the ruling rescinded.

http://www.fashion-incubator.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=4479

[CeciLeibovitz]

The announcement of the CPSIA stay was exciting, tangible proof that we really are being heard and making great progress. The stay is a partial and temporary relief, but there is much work to be done yet. Political leanings aside, we need bipartisan support in order to fix the CPSIA, and be left with a law that will allow us all to stay in business.

You can read more about Senator DeMint's bill here:
http://ceska.typepad.com/little_ida/2009/02/call-to-action-bill-to-amend-cpsia.html

Cecilia

[Former_Member]

marking

[Former_Member]

E-mailed my senators tonight and will call in the morning to ask them to co-sponsor Sen. DeMint's bill.

Blogged about it too, including my letter to my senators:
http://ladybuglimited.blogspot.com/2009/02/time-to-contact-your-senator.html

[Former_Member]

Marking

[bobbinalong]

I think the key is to see if the CPSC gets more money. If they do, I think they will go ahead and recind the postponement. They would look pretty foolish to accept the money but still not be able to complete their job. I just really feel that this law is too broad to be handled by one person in Congress. And not in a six-month period, knowing what we know about what is on Congress's plate, and the amount of time we have spent studying it, and getting as far as we have come. Congress has major issues to deal with, much more of a crisis than our problem.

I do not want to appear mean or uncooperative. Or difficult. But I am really uneasy about this. There has to be something we don't know. Something more than what we have seen. I hope that I am dead wrong. I hope that everyone can continue. I really do. But then on the other hand, I don't like to see shops building up a stockpile at this point. Too much is unclear. As important as this issue is, why in the world isn't it getting more media attention. Or am I just missing it.

[Former_Member]

marking, my head hurts too much to read it all right now.

[Former_Member]

Thank you for posting littlepink. Will be calling in the AM.

[Former_Member]

marking
thanks

[Superflykidz]

Marking - thank you! I'll be calling tomorrow :)

[Former_Member]

marking