Lobbyist withdrew his nomination to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission
USA Today
By Matt Kelley, USA TODAY
May 23, 2007

WASHINGTON — A manufacturing industry lobbyist withdrew his nomination to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission Wednesday amid strong opposition from some Senate Democrats and criticism from consumer groups.

President Bush had named National Association of Manufacturers lobbyist Michael Baroody to head the commission, which oversees product recalls and helps enforce federal consumer safety rules. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., moved to block Baroody's confirmation, joined by Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama.

Nelson told USA TODAY that a face-to-face meeting with Baroody on Monday didn't change his opposition. Nelson said he told Baroody his nomination at the CPSC was akin to nominating a drug industry lobbyist to head the Food and Drug Administration.

"He did not seem to understand the potential conflict," Nelson said.

Baroody declined to comment. White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said Bush accepted Baroody's decision. "After some members of the Senate rushed to judgment about Mr. Baroody and his qualifications, it became evident to Mr. Baroody that he would not be confirmed," Lawrimore said in a statement.

Baroody had been scheduled for a confirmation hearing at the Senate Commerce Committee today. Consumer groups — including Public Citizen, Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America — opposed the nomination, saying Baroody worked to weaken protections against potentially dangerous or defective products as a lobbyist. Baroody also urged then-New York Gov. George Pataki in 2000 to veto a bill that would have required the sale of fire-safe cigarettes in New York, USA TODAY reported earlier this month. Under pending federal legislation, the head of the CPSC would be in charge of developing and enforcing similar rules nationwide.

Nelson and other Senate critics also questioned a $150,000 severance payment that Baroody will receive from NAM when he leaves the association. The payment, arranged earlier this year before Baroody's nomination and first reported by the "New York Times", raised questions about whether Baroody could be impartial, Nelson said.

Former Michigan governor John Engler, the head of the manufacturers' group, lashed out at Baroody's critics in a statement Wednesday. Engler said Baroody was the victim of an "unprincipled smear campaign" and "would have been a great CPSC chairman."

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