Long-time readers know that I have an odd sort of fascination with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It’s just one of those unsung agencies that does important work for the public — which Bush has undermined through cronyism and hackery.
When Clinton was president, he appointed Ann Brown to chair the CPSC, which is responsible for reviewing thousands of consumer products to see which, if any, pose a health risk and might need to be recalled. Brown had spent 20 years as a consumer advocate and served as vice president of the Consumer Federation of America, so she was a logical choice, who ended up doing a fine job on behalf of American consumers.
This is how a functional administration works — find capable, competent people to fill government posts, and the public will be well served. Then Bush was elected. First, he tapped Hal Stratton for the post as a reward for his work on Lawyers for Bush during the 2000 campaign. His tenure was something of a joke. Upon Stratton’s resignation, Bush tapped picked another hack to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission: National Association of Manufacturers lobbyist Michael Baroody, who incidentally, has called for weakening the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
And in case this wasn’t funny enough, consider this gem.
A senior lobbyist at the National Association of Manufacturers nominated by President Bush to lead the Consumer Product Safety Commission will receive a $150,000 departing payment from the association when he takes his new government job, which involves enforcing consumer laws against members of the association.
The lobbyist, Michael E. Baroody, wrote recently to the commission’s general counsel that the severance was an “extraordinary payment” under a federal ethics rule, requiring him to remove himself from agency matters involving the association for two years. Under the rule, a payment is “extraordinary” if an employer grants it after learning that the employee is being considered for a government position and it is not part of an established compensation or benefits program.
Mr. Baroody said in the letter that the payment would not prevent him from considering matters involving individual companies that are members of the manufacturers’ association, many of whom are defendants in agency proceedings over defective products or have other business before the commission.
No, of course not. Who could ever think such a thing?
For all the talk about the Bush White House improving its attitude and learning its lessons, these clowns are just incapable of change. The hackery isn’t just obvious; it’s comical. For the president to send Baroody to the Senate for confirmation is Bush’s way of saying, “I’m shameless and I don’t care.”
Kevin Drum notes:
Democrats ought to unanimously vote to reject this doofus without even bothering with a hearing, but I suppose that’s not in the cards. Too bad.
It is too bad, because the nomination itself is a slap in the face. I’d very surprised if Baroody got even one Democratic vote — even Lieberman couldn’t support this guy — if not an outright filibuster.
Of course, given recent history, the president will simply wait for the Senate to take a day off to honor a holiday and then give Baroody a recess appointment.
After all, he’s shameless and he doesn’t care.