A billion $$$ in thrown out merchandise?

A draconian bill passed in haste--no, it's not the porkulus bill, it's one to amend the consumer product safety act, but has threatened the livelihoods of craft shop owners:

The law, designed to protect children from hazardous materials in toys and clothing, has raised concerns among manufacturers of children's goods. It requires businesses to test wares for anyone 12 and younger. But many crafts people are concerned that the legislation will place demands on small businesses that are unable to afford the required testing.

Brooke Bryan of Yellow Springs makes children's quilted clothing and quilts. Since her products are made individually or in small batches, she believes testing products would be cost-prohibitive.

"When mass manufactured goods reveal themselves as dangerous, the option to turn to locally produced, small-batch items should be preserved and I'm afraid with this legislation that won't happen," Bryan said.

Other small businesses across the country are affected as well:

If Congress can accidentally unleash such unintended and costly side effects when working in a fairly narrow area, imagine the consequences of their unintended sideswipes when it comes to health care or energy production.

Worse still, voters should take note of the lawmakers’ unwillingness to admit and correct their obvious errors. Not a single sponsor of CPSIA is defending the law or asserting that it was intended to work this way. But nor are any of them doing anything to introduce and push through the simple fixes that are necessary.

Hugh Hewitt, blog and in The Politico.

P.S. Perhaps this should be a subject for our President Barack Obama's women's panel, headed by Valerie Jarrett. How about it Arianna?, off in Italy. Do you still like your Obama Coke Zero? Ciao.