Congress passes a new "STUPID" bill !!!!

I got this from another blogger so I thought I would pass it on as well. This is the craziest thing I have ever heard.....

Apparently, as of 2/10/09 Congress has passed a bill banning the sale/resell of items made for children under the age of 12 that have not been tested for possible contaminants. This law includes clothing, toys, books, decor etc. This is outrageous! Online stores like ebay and etsy are going to be hugely affected by this. It also mentions thrift stores, goodwill stores, consignment sales, salvation army and yard sales. So many creative and talented crafters are going to be put out of business. So many people who shop at places like ebay and thrift stores are going to be hurt by this. Can you imagine all the now "garbage" we are going to be creating by having to throw out everything rather than reselling? Here is a summary of the legislature.

As of February 10, 2009, you will no longer be able to sell or buy children's used clothing under the CPSIA. Not at the Goodwill, not at a consignment shop, not on eBay. Not even at a yard sale. If you do, you face a $100,000 fine and 5 years of imprisonment. That is, unless the seller can find a government-approved way to test the garments that won't force them out of business.The CPSIA was an important legislative contribution to efforts to strengthen product safety laws for children's products. Although well-intentioned, if left unaltered, on February 10th, 2009 children's resale, consignment and nonprofit thrifts currently selling gently-used children's items will be forced to close or close their children's departments to consumers. The work of nonprofit organizations like Goodwill, Salvation Army and many smaller groups will be severely impacted.

Petition congress here! http://savekidsresale.squarespace.com/contact-congress-now/

Senator Richard C. Shelby (R- AL)202-224-5744 or 202-224-3416
http://shelby.senate.gov/resources/contact.htm

Senator Jeff Sessions (R- AL)202-224-4124 or 202-224-3149http://sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ConstituentServices.ContactMe

Congressman Spencer Bachus 202-225-4921 or 202-225-2082
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

You can contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission at http://www.cpsc.gov/.

***Update - the CPSC released a clarification today stating "The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties." So, it looks as if consignment and Ebay are safe for now!