Allen and Santorum are teaming up.

[globalvillage]

(I thought that might get your attention, Tay Tay.)
Allen and Santorum are co-sponsoring S.1110. This sounds like wonderful legislation on it's face. It requires adding a bittering agent to anti freeze, and that is a very good thing (antifreeze is supposedly quite yummy, but deadly. I'm going to pass on the taste test). Depending on whose statistics you believe, anti freeze poisons about 4,000 children a year and anywhere from 10,000-100,000 dogs and cats.
Here's the thing. If you read the bill, it excludes and holds harmless beyond what I think is necessary and acceptable, unless I'm mis-reading the exemptions. (FYI, for those of you reading it, denatonium benzoate is the bittering agent.) It seems to exclude commercial and wholesale use, which sounds like they're imposing the legislation only on the consumer who might change their own antifreeze, usually someone looking to save a couple bucks (surprise!).
My fear is that the antifreeze in commercial and some retail applications is no longer seen as hazardous. The public is lulled into thinking antifreeze is no longer a risk, but when the Chevy springs a leak in the driveway and the kid/dog/cat laps it up, the folks at Pep Boys are not responsible.
There's a hearing tomorrow at 10 on C-Span 3. If you get a chance, let me know what you think.
Maybe it's just a good bill, but with those two, I have my suspicions.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas

BTW, I realize this sounds incredibly boring, but it really is important to me.

Thanks.

[TayTay]

1. It sounds like typical Rethug mischief

And you were right, it got my attention. (Am I really that shallow? Or that easy to read? Geez.) Okay, it's because I loathe Barfbag and The Perfect Catholic. Yeah, I am becoming boring and predictable.

The Rethugs are all about making one thing seem like anohter. (A certain tall Senator we all know and admire said during the debates that their expressions were 'Orwellian.' I concur.)

I will listen to this. I fear that it may be another instance of trying to off-load responsibility from corporate interests to the consumer. (A Rethug specialty.) It sure sounds like it.

Thanks for the heads up!

[globalvillage]

2. I hope I'm wrong.

I know someone whose child was severely disabled by antifreeze poisoning, so this means a lot. If the bill is a good one, I hope it passes. I just can't help thinking it might do more harm than good.
Read the bill if you get a min and let me know what you think.
Thanks.

[globalvillage]

3. I may be the only person in the country

outside the hearing room that's watching this, but Mark Pryor is addressing one of my concerns with the guy from Prestone.
Prestone guy says they're not experts on DB, so they can't be responsible once it's added. Well, hire one, damnit!
This legislation removes liability from manufacturers once the bittering agent is added.

:wtf:

Good premise, but the bill needs amended. Guess I will have to write my senator (yuck), who will send me yet another form letter in response that says absolutely nothing. I don't think he even bothered to show up for this, even though he's a co-sponsor.