Nation
After public backlash, Consumer Safety Commission walks back ‘gas-stove threat’ position
A prime example of the phrase ‘think before you speak’ occurred within the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission this week. Commissioner Richard Trump Jr. caused a nationwide stir when he told media outlet Bloomberg News that gas stoves are “a hidden hazard.”
Trumka decisively said an outright ban is possible: “Any option is on the table. Products that can’t be made safe can be banned.” Trumka’s comments prompted ridicule and scrutiny by politicians, media and American citizens who cook for their families.
As a result, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric issued a statement Wednesday in an attempt to assure the public there was no intention to ban gas stoves as his colleague suggested.
“Over the past several days, there has been a lot of attention paid to gas stove emissions and to the Consumer Product Safety Commission,” Hoehn-Saric wrote in an official statement released Wednesday. “To be clear, I am not looking to ban gas stoves and the CPSC has no proceeding to do so.”
West Virginia’s Democratic senator Joe Manchin Tweeted Wednesday that the possibility of government intervention is a “recipe for disaster.”
“This is a recipe for disaster. The federal government has no business telling American families how to cook their dinner. I can tell you the last thing that would ever leave my house is the gas stove that we cook on,” Manchin wrote.
However, another Democrat, New York governor Kathy Hochul, has called for completely eliminating gas heating and appliances in all new construction projects by 2030.
In a turn of events, the House of Representatives made history on Friday with a vote to expel Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), marking the first such expulsion in over two decades. A moment fraught with gravity unfolded as Speaker Mike Johnson wielded his gavel to formalize Santos’ removal, setting a precedent in congressional annals.
Santos, indicted on 23 counts related to wire fraud, identity theft, and other charges, has not faced conviction but stands accused of misusing campaign funds for opulent purchases. The bipartisan vote, tallying 311 to 114, signaled robust support for expulsion, with a marginally higher number of Republicans opting to retain Santos.
Questions loomed as Speaker Johnson left the chamber, his silence leaving the fate of the ongoing government spending battle uncertain. According to reports from Fox News, Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer emphasized the non-partisan nature of the decision, asserting that members concluded Santos had tarnished the House’s reputation and was unfit for representation.
Within the GOP, conflicting opinions emerged, with Rep. Darrell Issa arguing against expulsion, citing the presumption of innocence. The tight-lipped stance of the House Ethics Committee played a pivotal role in the deliberations.
Conversely, members of the New York Republican delegation, led by Rep. Marc Molinaro, asserted Santos’ commission of crimes, justifying expulsion based on a comprehensive investigation.
Santos himself predicted the outcome in an exclusive morning interview on “FOX & Friends.” This vote not only underlines the House’s rare use of expulsion powers but also sets a critical precedent in handling members facing severe legal challenges.
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