When we covered the bureaucracy we discussed the concept of agency capture, the tendency of a bureaucratic agency to become captured by the, or an, industry it is meant to regulate.
This may be the latest example.
The current and previous chairs of the When we covered the bureaucracy we discussed the concept of agency capture, the tendency of a bureaucratic agency to become captured by the industry it is meant to regulate.
The current and previous chairs of the Consumer Products Safety Commission are reported to have taken over two dozen trips to places like Hong Kong, San Francisco, and Hilton Head as the guests of the industries that make children's toys and furniture, their lobbyists and lawyers.
Suspicions have risen that this has influenced their conduct in office since the commission has refused to pass mandatory regulations on these industries, been lax on enforcement, and is opposed to legislation increasing their ability to test children's products.
The bill in question is H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act of 2007, which is being considered in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Despite calls for her resignation, the current chair says she will not step down.
