Congress just put your wiretapping dollars to work, by amending a homeland security bill to allow the Consumer Product Safety Commission to regain “its full authority to oversee the safety of thousands of household products,” says the Washington Post. The reprieve only lasts for six months, but during that time it allows the commission–which has been hobbling along in an inactive state since January because of an ongoing member vacancy–to meet and take action on matters of consumer safety with only two members present.

The amendment was triggered by the recent string of product recalls. Since January, the agency has continued to work with companies to initiate recalls, but only on a voluntary basis.

Readers may remember the small storm caused a few months ago by the President’s nomination of Michael Baroody, who was criticized by many for his past work as a leader of the National Association of Manufacturers, a lobbying group that has frequently opposed the work of the CPSC. Baroody withdrew his nomination in May.

Lawmakers Return Clout To Safety Commission [The Washington Post]

(Photo: Getty)

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