Spending Bill Would Hide Consumer Safety Risks, Money in Politics

Consumer product safety risks would be concealed and influence peddling in government contracting would remain out of public view under the provisions of the fiscal year 2012 spending bill approved today by the House Financial Services and General Government appropriations subcommittee.

The bill would prohibit the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) from expending funds on its consumer product safety database. Congress required CPSC to establish the database in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, in response to a string of high-profile product recalls. The bill passed both houses with overwhelming support and was signed into law by President Bush.