First, we have the new recall of toys made by exploited workers in a Communist country:
Chapel Hill, North Carolina – In the wake of yet another enormous recall of imported children's toys, Senator John Edwards sent a letter to President Bush calling again for the Bush administration to take immediate steps to reduce the growing risk posed by unsafe trade and ensure the health and welfare of American consumers. Edwards also sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid urging them to launch a bipartisan Congressional investigation into the matter.
Edwards called for concrete and common-sense steps, including independent third party testing, authority for temporary border detention of products containing paint or magnets and stronger enforcement powers for the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The text of the letters, as well as Edwards' six-point plan to address the risks posed by dangerous toys and protect the health and safety of American children, are below:
Here is his letter to President George W. Gump:
Dear President Bush,
As one father to another, I'm calling on you to end your silence, speak out, and take immediate action to stop the growing crisis of dangerous toys being imported from China. The safety of the American people should be your highest priority and these unsafe toys pose a serious threat to the health and welfare of millions of children. Given the growing scope of this crisis, we cannot rely on corporations to initiate voluntary recalls while your administration sits on the sidelines. America's families and our children deserve better than this.
Again, I ask you, as one parent to another, to consider the serious fears and concerns that millions of parents face because they are unsure whether their child is playing with a toy made in China that could seriously harm our children. With nearly 12 million toys recalled this summer alone, it is clear now that the chain of recalls are not isolated incidents. Just today, Mattel had to recall 9 million toys from China because they put our children at risk. The manufacturing standards in countries like China, from where which nearly 80 percent of toys are imported, are inadequate and not being enforced. This is unacceptable. We need real leadership and we need action to ensure that our children's toys are safe.
A working group to study the issue is plainly inadequate. As president, you must put aside any concerns you may have for the impact on this industry, and do everything in your power to ensure that dangerous toys never pass our borders and harm America's children.
Two weeks ago, I proposed that we look at solutions like mandatory, independent third party testing. Many manufacturers already seek independent safety assurances. Since neither Chinese manufacturers nor their American corporate partners seem capable of stopping the production of dangerous toys, I am convinced that mandatory independent testing is absolutely necessary to safeguard the health of our children.
Until a reliable system of testing is firmly in place, we must protect our children. I want to know why you have not adopted a "zero tolerance" policy, getting whatever authority you need to immediately stop and test the highest-risk imported children's products -- those with potentially toxic lead-based paint or detachable magnets. We also need to put the Consumer Product Safety Commission back on the side of consumers — by strengthening its enforcement powers and eliminating conflicts of interest. Finally, we need to enact smart and safe trade policies that put workers and families first, instead of the profits of big multinational corporations. I urge you to immediately take these steps to help ensure the safety of our children — they deserve nothing less.
You have the power to make our country a safer place for our kids to play and learn and grow – for their sake, please act today.
Sincerely,
John Edwards
While Senator Edwards should be commended for standing up and giving Bush many good ideas to implement to protect our children, I am afraid his plea will fall on deaf ears. First, President Bush's children never had to depend on cheap made toys. But mainly, nothing is more important to President Bush than his base in big business being able to exploit third world workers, unemploy American workers, and create huge profits for his greedy unpatriotic base. This is even more important to them than the protection of our children from their greed. Yes, it is definately a different America that Bush fights for!!!
Edwards has also sent a letter to the "leaders" of our Congress asking them to take action to protect our children:
Dear Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid,
As parents, I am asking you to take immediate action to stop the growing crisis of dangerous toys being imported from China. President Bush continues to remain silent while more and more dangerous toys make their way into our children's hands. This is unacceptable. I have called on the president to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of our children, but given his silence, I urge you to take action. Given the growing scope of this crisis, we cannot rely on corporations to initiate voluntary recalls or, apparently, on the Bush Administration. Clearly, America's families and our children deserve better than this.
I ask you to consider the serious fears and concerns that millions of parents face because they are unsure whether their child is playing with a toy made in China that could seriously harm our children. With nearly 12 million toys recalled this summer alone, it is clear now that the chain of recalls are not isolated incidents. Just today, Mattel had to recall 9 million toys from China because they put our children at risk. The manufacturing standards in countries like China, from where which nearly 80 percent of toys are imported, are inadequate and are not being enforced. This is unacceptable.
Two weeks ago, I proposed that we look at solutions like mandatory, independent third party testing. Many manufacturers already seek independent safety assurances. Since neither Chinese manufacturers nor their American corporate partners seem capable of stopping the production of dangerous toys, I am convinced that mandatory independent testing is absolutely necessary to safeguard the health of our children.
Until a reliable system of testing is firmly in place, we must protect our children. We need to adopt a "zero tolerance" policy, passing new legislation if necessary to immediately stop and test the importation of the highest-risk children's products-- those with potentially toxic lead-based paint or detachable magnets. We also need to put the Consumer Product Safety Commission back on the side of consumers by strengthening its enforcement powers and eliminating conflicts of interest. Finally, we need to enact smart and safe trade policies that put workers and families first, instead of prioritizing the profits of big multinational corporations.
Respectfully, I urge you to launch a bipartisan congressional investigation to determine why this threat from unsafe Chinese imports is now emerging, the exact threat our children face, what corporations that trade with China knew, and when did they know it, and what, if anything, the Bush Administration has done to address these serious issues.
I strongly encourage all members of Congress -- Democrats, Republicans, and Independents -- to work together to address this problem before it becomes an even greater threat to our children.
Sincerely,
John Edwards
Lets hope they listen to Sen. Edwards and all of us a lot more than they did during their capitulation on the Iraq supplemental, and the FISA Bill!!! If the injustice done our troops, and preserving our Constitution means nothing to them, let us pray that the safety of our children does.
As always Edwards has put his money where his mouth is. Go here to see his six-point plan to protect our children from dangerous products:
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Not only was Edwards calling for the protection of our children from dangerous toys, he was calling for all children to have health coverage:
Grundy Center, Ames, Des Moines, Oskaloosa and Ottumwa, Iowa – On the fourth day of Senator John Edwards' "Fighting for One America" tour, Edwards called for a major expansion of children's health insurance as an immediate step toward universal health care. Edwards also unveiled his Iowa Children and Youth Cabinet, a wide-ranging group of Iowans with first hand knowledge of the issues facing young people today. The group consists of 31 children's advocates, community leaders, teachers and parents from across the state who will advise Edwards and his campaign on children's policy.
Both houses of Congress have passed bills to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to cover an additional four to five million children. There are currently nine million children in America without health insurance—51,000 of whom live in Iowa — yet President Bush has threatened to veto the expansion. Edwards, who was the first presidential candidate to propose a truly universal health care plan, is urging Republicans in Congress to stand with Democrats and override that veto if necessary, and put the health of America's children ahead of insurance company profits.
"George Bush cites philosophical concerns about expanding children's health insurance," Edwards said. "In reality, his philosophy is denying nine million kids health insurance. While we cannot be satisfied until every man, woman and child in America is covered by a truly universal health care plan, this bill is a step in the right direction and is action that can be taken today. I hope for the sake of our children that George Bush stops siding with insurance companies over kids and withdraws his threat to veto the expansion of health care for kids. And if he does veto kids' health care, I hope every member of Congress – Republican, Democrat or Independent – will stand up for our children and override the veto. Our kids deserve nothing less."
Expanding SCHIP is one of the cornerstones of Edwards' plan to cover every single man, woman and child in America. Under the Edwards health care plan, every American will enjoy true universal coverage, the choice of a public plan, reduced costs, and higher-quality health care.
This includes putting the interests of our children over those of insurance companies:
Almost 9 million American children lack health insurance – and 51,000 of them live in Iowa. Congress is now reconciling two different bills that would expand the successful State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to cover 4 to 5 million additional children from low-income families. Today, John Edwards called on George Bush to stop siding with insurance companies over kids and withdraw his threat to veto the expansion of health care for kids.
Bush Says He Will Veto Health Insurance for Kids: SCHIP is a joint federal/state program that provides health care for low-income children whose families are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid. However, it has not been funded at levels that would cover all eligible children. President Bush has threatened to veto any legislation that expands SCHIP to cover more children. He says he has a "philosophical" preference for tax breaks that benefit insurance companies more than low-income families – families who generally can't afford health insurance today with or without tax deductions. An M.I.T. analysis of Bush's plan for new tax breaks found that they would actually increase (not decrease) the number of uninsured Americans because employers would tend to drop coverage. [White House, 7/18/07; CPPP, 2007]
The Insurance Industry Is Helping Lead the Fight Against SCHIP: Not surprisingly, private health insurance companies have been leaders in the fight against the legislation that would expand health care for kids. [AARP, 2007]
The Bush Administration Has Misled the Public About SCHIP: Administration officials have wrongly asserted that only 1.7 million children are uninsured and eligible for coverage under the proposed legislation. In fact, 6.1 million children are eligible for SCHIP or Medicaid – many of whom could obtain coverage under the proposed expansion. And although the Bush administration has criticized SCHIP as "government-owned" health care, in fact, private doctors and plans deliver care under the program. [CBPP, 2007; CAP, 2007]
Bush continues to defend the rights of the least patriotic among us, big business and insurance to deny healthcare to our children in the name of profits. Is that any surprise?
Edwards next calls for an expanding of a successful plan that ignores insurance profits for the welfare of our children:
Expanding a Successful Program
Medicaid and SCHIP play essential roles in helping low-income Americans get the health care they need.
SCHIP Has Been an Unusual Success: SCHIP was enacted by Congress in 1997 to increase health insurance coverage for low-income children (who did not already qualify for Medicaid). Approximately 6.6 million children are now covered through state programs that are funded jointly by the federal government through SCHIP and the states.
Iowa's hawk-i Program Now Covers Tens of Thousands of Children: Iowa uses its share of federal S-CHIP funds to operate a program called "hawk-i" that provides health coverage for more than 30,000 kids. [Iowa Fiscal Partnership, 2007]
SCHIP Is Now at Risk: The SCHIP program expires on September 30, 2007. As is, the program faces significant shortfalls. Iowa is projected to be at least $16 million short this year to sustain current levels of coverage. If the program is not reauthorized by September 30, Iowa will be forced to cut benefits, cut the number of children participating or spend more state funds to continue the program. [Iowa Fiscal Partnership, 2007]
Renewal is Pending in Congress: The House and the Senate have passed different bills renewing and expanding SCHIP to cover an additional 4 to 5 million children. Once they pass a single reconciled bill, it will go President Bush's desk. Most Democrats and some Republicans in Congress want to renew and expand the program to cover an additional 4 to 5 million children. About two-thirds of the 51,000 uninsured Iowa children are eligible for either Medicaid or hawk-i. Tens of thousands of these children would gain coverage under the increased funding provided by the House or Senate bill. [Families USA, 2007]
He then details how SCHIP is one of the cornerstones of his own healthcare plan:
A Down Payment on True Universal Health Care Tomorrow
John Edwards was the first presidential candidate to propose a detailed plan for true universal health care that offers every American the option of a public plan. Expanding SCHIP is one of the cornerstones of Edwards' plan to cover single American man, woman and child. As president, he will strengthen the federal partnership with states supporting these programs, committing the federal resources necessary to allow states to expand Medicaid and SCHIP to serve all adults under the poverty line and all children and parents under 250 percent of the poverty line (about $50,000 for a family of four).
It is clear to see that John Edwards is the candidate who will take on big business and insurance to ensure the safety of something other than the profits of the least patriotic among us, our children. Please help us keep this essential work alive!!!:
https://secure.actblue.com/...
John Edwards in 08- Building One America for All!!!
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