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Consumer Safety Chief Quits Abruptly

By James R. Hood
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 19, 2006

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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Hal Stratton has resigned abruptly, reportedly to join a Washington, D.C., law firm. Stratton's resignation was effective Friday, July 15. He reportedly left his resignation letter with Commissioner Nancy Nord, a Republican who will serve as acting chair until after the November elections.

In his three-paragraph resignation letter, Stratton reportedly said he did not know what his next job would be.

"He saw the job as a stepping stone, something he could turn into a more lucrative career in the private sector," a former CPSC insider said. "He had no background in safety and was basically an out-of-work Republican looking for a job" at the time of his appointment four years ago.

Stratton was previously attorney general of New Mexico.

The White House did not issue a statement on Stratton's resignation. It's expected that President Bush will wait until after the November elections to nominate a successor, although some Washington observers said he might move quickly to give the job to a well-known conservative to prop up his lagging support among far-right sectors of the GOP.

Some conservatives hold the CPSC in contempt, referring to it as the "Federal Nanny" and contending that consumers should take responsibility for their own safety. Consumer advocates say the agency should be more proactive and should work to make recalls more effective, requiring retailers and manufacturers to notify consumers directly when a product is recalled.

Stratton's reign at CPSC was generally regarded as undistinguished. Consumer and safety advocates noted that he spent a lot of time traveling, often at industry expense, to China, Mexico, Spain and other destinations. The commission issued only one new safety rule during his tenure.

The commission has made slow progress towards flammability standards for mattresses and upholstered furniture and is creeping towards regulating all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) used by young children.

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