Edwards calls for head of consumer safety head

Democrat John Edwards called today for the resignation of the head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission as he outlined proposals to protect Americans from unsafe food, drugs, and toys.

Campaigning at a middle school in Amherst, N.H., Edwards blasted Nancy Nord, the commission's acting chairwoman appointed by President Bush, for accepting travel expenses from the toy industry.

Tuesday, she defended her enforcement record before a congressional committee, and Bush proposed to give the federal government sweeping new powers to monitor imported products.

But Edwards said the federal government isn't doing enough. He proposes to double the CPSC's budget, to require independent testing for lead in children's products, to enforce country-of-origin labeling on food products, and to station permanent Food and Drug Administration inspectors in all countries that export significant amounts of pharmaceuticals to the United States.

"The broken system in Washington has created weak consumer protection regulations and bad trade deals leaving our children and families vulnerable to unsafe products," he said. "As president, I will overhaul our import safety system and stand up to the special interests who put corporate profit about the health and safety of the American people."