Campaign finance reform

"Candidates urged to return auto funds Critics: Consumer safety imperiled by contributions"

"WASHINGTON–Consumer groups and a Central Valley woman who experienced two tire disintegrations called on presidential and congressional candidates Monday to return campaign contributions from the auto industry

Three advocacy groups–Public Campaign, Common Cause and the Sacramento-based Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety–claimed auto industry campaign contributions over the years have blocked efforts to strengthen consumer protection.

'The auto industry has greased the works in Congress over the last 10 years,' said Nick Nyhart, who heads Public Campaign. 'Consumers groups that don't play the money game in Congress take a back seat' to the industry

For example, he said the budget of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is 36 percent less than in 1980, and the employees who work on proposed rules has shrunk from 103 to 62.

Of the several groups that attended the press conference, only one–Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety–requested that donations be refunded."

– Sacramento Bee, October 3, 2000

 

"Industry roadblock thwarts efforts to boost auto safety"

"Congress is the primary reason for gaping holes in government regulation of car and truck safety·Next time a child is killed because of a disintegrating tire, or a young adult dies because of a vehicle-design flaw, don't just blame the driver or the manufacturer. Blame those who insist on keeping the political process captive to special interests and their money."

– USA Today, Editorial, October 20, 2000