Toy woes may result in more power for safety agency

0 Comments | USA TODAY, September, 2007 | by Jayne O'Donnell

Senators are prepared to boost the Consumer Product Safety Commission's budget and legal authority so it can better keep unsafe toys and children's jewelry off store shelves, Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said Wednesday.

But Durbin, who chaired an Appropriations subcommittee hearing on toy safety, made it clear they weren't going to do it without taking the agency to task.

CPSC acting Chairman Nancy Nord was chastised for not doing more about unsafe imported toys, while toy industry executives got comparatively mild treatment.

Durbin said he was "heartened" by the industry's cooperation. During the hearing, Toys R Us CEO Jerry Storch announced an improved recall-notification plan that includes e-mails to customers and a new section of its website...