Governor Douglas Stands Up For Vermonts Kids

We at VPIRG would like to congratulate and thank Governor Jim Douglas for standing up for Vermont’s children by denouncing the Bush Administration’s proposal to restrict funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) as “an unconscionable reversal of federal policy.” The new federal guidelines, which impose harsh restrictions on states that wish to use SCHIP funding to cover the children of families with incomes greater than 250% of the federal poverty level, could result in over 2,000 Vermont children losing their health benefit next year. Although Governor Douglas will undoubtedly come under immense pressure from the National Republican Party and private health insurance companies, he has chosen to do the right thing by publicly speaking out against the Bush Administration’s decision. We applaud the Governor’s action and encourage him to continue to put the needs of Vermont’s children ahead of big business and partisan politics.

Product Recalls and a Warm Welcome

(Quick note from the editor: Say hello to our newest member Charity Carbine! This is her first blog post, of which I’m sure there will be many many more. Welcome to the team Charity!)

As my niece’s birthday quickly approaches, I will soon be trolling the aisles of the local toy store in search of the perfect present. My guidelines for this annual purchase are simple: will this gift establish my dominance as the best aunt ever and will it poke her eye out. If the respective answers are yes and no, the item is a keeper.

Unfortunately, given the recent and massive recalls of toys tainted with lead paint, my purchasing philosophy must now be drastically altered. In the latest recall of Chinese-manufactured goods, toy giant Mattel found that 1.5 million of its products – including those modeled after popular children’s characters Big Bird, Elmo, and Dora the Explorer – contained lead paint. Not the first of its kind, this oversight calls into question the effectiveness of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), showcasing its lack of resources and inconsistent rules on lead. The incident also crystallizes the necessity for more stringent protections at both the national and state levels.

In this day and age, caring for children is complicated enough. We worry about them crossing the street, playing at the park, and talking to strangers. We shouldn’t have to worry that the toys we buy them are poisonous.

To find out which toys have been recalled go here; to learn more about VPIRG’s environmental health program go here. You can also check out the 8 steps we can take to make our children’s products safer here!

Charity Carbine
Environmental Health Advocate