National Bankruptcy Day is Here

Today is the day the CPSIA goes into effect. While the CPSC delayed the enforcement of the rules for one year, the new guidelines* and testing aspects of the law still go into effect today.

There is one voice* of reason calling in the desert that is our government... Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina. Senator DeMint explains, plain and simple, the side effects of the CPSIA in an article here. Last week he introduced an amendment to the act that would:

"...exempt thrift stores, yard sales, consignment shops and other re-sellers from being forced to meet unwarranted requirements and remove the threat of retroactive repercussions for selling items already produced under previous rules. That way makers of homemade goods and local manufacturers can stay in business and aren't stuck with un-sellable items already in stock."

I put a little watch box in my side bar courtesy of OpenCongress.org to keep an eye on this bill as it makes it's way through Congress. If you have a minute read the article and send off a couple emails to let your senators and reps know that you would appreciate their support for S.374 (the amendment).

And when I disappear for a few weeks next November...look for me in South Carolina holding a "VOTE FOR JIM DEMINT" sign!


*FYI: You guys in AZ should know that only four senators voted against the CPSIA and Jon Kyl was one of them.

*If you are interested in the actual guidelines for small businesses and resellers they can be found here. Just scroll down and click on "Guidance on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) for Small Businesses, Resellers, Crafters, and Charities".