Here is a Senate fact that I never really thought about before getting to Washington. Senators don't always come to hearings. If they come, they don't usually stay for the whole thing. Sometimes, they come to give an opening statement and then bail. Today, the hearing started with 3 Senators (Vitter, Lautenberg, Whitehouse) and is now down to 2 (Lautenberg and Whitehouse). There are 9 on the subcommittee.
This should make question time go pretty fast.
Here are the good ones:
Lautenberg - Currently EPA has to prove that chemicals are bad but the burdon of proof is unrealisticelly high. They couldn't even regulate asbestos (Isn't that crazy?) Should the burdon of proof be moved to industry?
Linda Fisher - yes
Hawkins - yes + EPA should have authority to act decisively. Waiting around is bad for business.
Lautenberg - Would better review of chemicals cost industry more or less? (question targeted to Gerwig - smart decision)
Gerwig - Cost burdon should be shifted to manufacturers and away from consumers. Kaiser wants to spend money on making people healthy not worrying about what they are buying. Great answer.
By far the best exchange of the day:
Whitehouse - (To Bosley) - Did I hear you correctly that, "because of vast # of chemicals on the market, EPA shouldn't be burdoned with determining their safety of use"?
Bosley - Industry should determine the safety of their products.
Whitehouse - (getting feisty) - How did that work out for tobacco and lead?
Bosley - (she knows she is cornered) - I meant for the vast majority of chemicals used in manufacturing.
Whitehouse - So you meant to add, "EPA can't be burdoned with determining safety where use of chemicals is not for consumers?"
Bosley - yes
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