Getting the lead out for Christmas

State Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, and Rep. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, have introduced the Florida Toy Safety Act, which would force retailers to identify products not meeting federal safety standards.

“As a parent, it is my right to know if what I am purchasing for my three year old is potentially hazardous,” Justice said in a release. “Florida is a gateway for international trade and we should be leading the way on regulations that increase product safety and consumer confidence. I want to be able to tell my constituents that the products they buy won’t harm their children. Right now, that just isn’t possible.”

The legislation is not yet online.

Comments

More bureaucracy at the state level. Great idea in a recession.

Dems are once again protecting children and consumers, while the GOP wants to protect big business and China imports. (and their contributors)

sad that we need a bill to have this but when kids' toys are laced with roofies - - my God -
one more reason to buy American.

Sad as it is, there is just no way to survive on an average family's income while buying American. My family tries to as much as possible, but I dare you to try to find clothes for two growing children that are affordable and American made. Thanks to the debacle that was the GOP leadership for the last 27 years (with some Clintonesque GOP-lite thrown in) with its "big business is great - crap on the little guy" belief system, we are in quite a hole.

Crist should be happy with this bill as it is similar to something that one of his idol governor's state does.

As I was sitting on the throne the other day, and no serious reading in sight, I noticed on the back of one of the many toiletries a phrase that stated the "product had ingredients known to the State of California to cause cancer."

Guess we could have state-by-state requirements for imports... but then again, everything would need to be super-sized to have enough package space to write all the individual state disclaimers on them.

Not saying this is a bad thing, just think it needs to be done on the federal level.

[geoffrey]

243 is probably right.
Are the feds doing anything ?
and it is an election year so expect more of this feel good stuff.

[The Angel Drake]

Yeah, this is classic. A couple of democrats try to write a good bill, but it doesn't occur to them that this will take an incredible toll on small businesses. Sure, KB and Toys R Us won't like it, but you will be devastated if you're anything other than a huge monolith. So yet again, a well intentioned democrat plan will backfire on the little guy. But it will REALLY upset the big guys, so guess what comes next???

Across the aisle, Ray Sansom and Jeff Atwater are absolutely licking their chops. They will each raise an extra $1.5 million each from the retail federation, Wal-Mart, Target, Publix, Toys R Us, etc., that will then be used to target marginal seats like, yep, you guessed it - Darren Soto's (Dem pickup this January) and Charlie Justice's (Dem pickup last November).

So let's recap - well intentioned democrats that bypassed Eco 101 propose bill that will get a tacit nod and approval from people when they read about it, but who will forget all about it when it gets referred to EVERY house and senate committee at the direction of leadership. Meanwhile, Fl Chamber, Retail, NFIB and AIF use this to further drive a wedge between the democrats and the middle class. And then, to add insult to injury, Charlie and Derren get targeted by the GOP with money they got from terrified retail long before this bill gets submarined.

Great job, guys. God help the GOP if the democrats ever got anybody that could think one or two steps ahead.

[Bob]

Props to Justice & Soto for taking on a extremely important and I would say politically uncontroversial issue that no one else in the FL legislature seems to have an interest in.

923 - any issue that benefits consumers is going to tick off a large special interest group like the retailers. I don't think that's a productive mindset for shaping public policy. It's one thing to be a realist it's another thing to simply be scared into submission.

[Dumas]

Drake-
OR they work with the retailers and water down the bill and everyone's friends
OR it doesnt matter if they sponsor the tax increase the retailers want - the retail fed still takes their orders from the GOP and spends tons against Charlie again (and lose again)

[Joe]

State Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, is one of the legislators supoorting local government's drunken spending at taxpayers expense.

243, Justice isn't up in 2008. Good analysis...

[Taxed out of St. Pete]

“Florida Toy Safety Act, which would force retailers to identify products not meeting federal safety standards.”

Hey CJ, here’s a thought… why not introduce legislation that would prevent “products not meeting federal safety standards” from even getting to the shelves! This baloney is like forcing retailers to identify cigarettes that are hazardous to your health. Blah, blah, blah…

Hey, here’s another thought… how ‘bout some legislation that lowers insurance premiums and taxes… yes… I’m certain I’ve heard that somewhere.

Or maybe some legislation that would allow you to stay on our dime while looking for a better job! Oh, never mind… you can check that off your “to-do” list.

9:40- can't introduce a bill that keeps the products off the shelves- violation of interstate commerce clause. Disclosure is the best they can do at the state level. Kudos to Justice and Soto.

[Taxed out of St. Pete]

10:13 - save the spin.

We have laws that keep things like marijuana and cocaine off the shelves don’t we?

Change the "interstate commerce clause" to make it happen if need be.

If not, save me the taxes and dissolve the Department of Federal Standards.

And NO Legislator deserves “kudos” of any kind. The only actions they’ve taken can be described as “self-serving” at best.

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=0886

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=0886

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=0886

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=0886

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=0886

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=0886

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=0886

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=0886

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=0886

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=0886

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=0886

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=0886

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2008&BillNum=0886

[Slightly PO'd]

"And NO Legislator deserves “kudos” of any kind. The only actions they’ve taken can be described as “self-serving” at best."

Hey Taxed! It appears to me that you use the internet. I'd also wager that you probably drive on road from time to time. Your kids probably go to public school. I bet you also have mail delivered to your house. You're a smart guy and know where I'm going with this . . .

Paying taxes is our way of coughing up some money for the things we enjoy here in America. Can you imagine how crappy our lives would be if we collected contributions from people to pay for these services. Get a clue dum-dum!

While you're at it, ease up on our elected officials. They are honorable and should be addressed as such.