When Will Groundhog Day End?

What do the American Chemistry Council, the Toy Industry Association, the Association of Washington Retailers, and the Association of Washington Business have to do with Groundhog Day? Thanks to their continued opposition to policies that protect children from harmful toxic chemical, they’ve created their own kind of Groundhog Day right here in Washington state. 

Last week, the Children’s Safe Products Bill had two hearings in the legislature. And, in no surprise to supporters of the bill, a long list of industry lobbyists testified against the bill. Their opposition has gotten so repetitive that next time we’re expecting Bill Murray to walk through the hearing room door.

These “usual suspects” have been opposing children’s environmental health bills for as long as we can remember. They include the American Chemistry Council (Dow Chemical and Exxon), the Toy Industry of America (Hasbro and Mattel), the Grocery Manufacturers Association (Safeway and Albertsons), the Washington State Retail Association (Target) and WalMart. 

Imagine if these guys expended as much energy and resources working to find safer alternatives to formaldehyde in baby blankets as they do opposing children’s environmental health legislation in Washington. Children’s product manufacturers would probably be much further ahead in figuring out how to replace harmful toxic chemicals in their products with safer chemicals and materials and we’d be one step closer in protecting kids from a preventable source of toxic chemicals. 

But, instead, we’re celebrating Groundhog Day not by watching to see whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow when he pops out of his hole, but by watching industry lobbyists pop up with the same stale arguments: it’s too expensive to make sure chemicals used in toys are safe, so toy makers will stop selling toys in Washington if this bill passes. 

Enough is enough. When will industry and retailers break this Groundhog Day cycle and work with governments, parents, and environmental health advocates to find a proactive solution instead of just saying “no”?

In years past, the Legislature and Governor Gregoire have seen through the posturing and put kids’ health first by passing groundbreaking legislation to get a few of the worst toxic chemicals out of consumer products. We’re hoping this trend will continue and the legislature will pass the Children’s Safe Products Bill this year.

One thought to leave you with on this Groundhog Day: If a chemical industry lobbyist sees his shadow while testifying against bills to protect children from toxic chemicals, does that mean he’ll go back to his hole and the bill will pass?

Let’s hope so. 

Image courtesy of flickr user PburghStever