Howard Metzenbaum spent his retirement working as a consumer advocate

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http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/opinion/120565800760950.xml&coll=2
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Stephen Brobeck and Travis Plunkett

When he left the U.S. Sen ate in 1995, Howard Metzenbaum didn't retire to Florida to relax and play tennis, a sport he dearly loved.

Instead, the 77-year-old accepted an offer from the non-profit Consumer Federation of America to become its unpaid chairman and commuted daily to the modest CFA offices.

For more than a decade, Metzenbaum served as the consumer movement's chief and most influential advocate before Congress and key federal agencies. We had the privilege of working closely with him as he fought many issues, such as high prescription drug and gasoline prices, that are still alive today.

Concerned that rising drug prices were limiting access to medical treatment, Metzenbaum supported legislation to increase access to low-cost generic drug alternatives. He encouraged Federal Trade Commission Chairman Timothy Muris to investigate anti-consumer practices by brand drug companies. The resulting effort by the FTC to highlight these practices provided key support for the legislation...