Barbara Boxer as Erin Brockovich
Barbara Boxer as Erin Brockovich
It’s good to know that some senators are doing their research on President Bush’s nominees. Senator Boxer was the star of yesterday’s confirmation hearing for Stephen Johnson, Bush’s nominee to lead the EPA. She dug up information on a little-known program being sponsored by the EPA and the American Chemistry Council in Duval County, Florida.
The program targets low-income African-American families and asks parents to videotape their children crawling around a pesticide-infested environment (their homes). Scientists watch the tapes and regularly test the babies for pesticide exposure. In return, the families can keep the video camera and are paid $970 over two years.
This study, the Children’s Environmental Exposure Research Study (CHEERS) also mandates that parents not be provided information about the proper ways to apply or store pesticides, and they cannot be informed of the risks of exposure to pesticides.
The American Chemistry Council (ACC), which numbers many pesticides manufacturers among its members, is paying $2 million to help sponsor this study. The ACC will have the chance to review the study’s findings prior to their release to the public as well.
Sen. Boxer responded to Johnson’s affirmation that the program had been suspended but not cancelled by saying, “… you should pull the plug on that program tomorrow and if you don’t, I’m going to do everything in my disposal to make that happen.” A single senator can hold up Johnson’s confirmation, and from Boxer’s remarks it appears that she is ready to take this one all the way.
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At least as far as 45 votes will get her (unfortunately). Barbara makes us all proud. I only wish Diane was a little more liberal on some issues.
April 7th, 2005 at 5:54 pmBarbara is definitely California’s star Senator now, and, in my opinion, it is time for California Democrats to find a good replacement candidate for Diane. One that comes immediately to mind is Darryl Steinberg.
April 7th, 2005 at 6:28 pmCHEERS is just a harmless program to prove that toxic cancer causing pesticides are safe, even for little children.
April 7th, 2005 at 8:54 pmBarbara Boxer is a loudmouth red diaper doper baby who should mind her own business and get with the culture of life. CHEERS.
You gotta love the innocence of the Sigmnunds who want to believe that this is the best of all possible worlds and that people like Boxer just nag, nag, nag. Toxic hugs and kisses for all these culture-of-lifers who believe in letting lying dogs sleep.
April 7th, 2005 at 9:53 pmThank you Barbara Boxer. Here we go again. The poor black American used as a guinea pig.
Remember The Tuskegee Syphilis Study. If you don’t, learn about it.
April 8th, 2005 at 12:23 amThe fact that there IS outrage after learning about this issue means that it is probably not something that should continue.
Maybe the study should focus on upper-middle class white children. Let them roam around the house sucking on Raid cans. We’ll see how far this program gets.
April 8th, 2005 at 8:45 amVilno, I was just kidding. I thought it was obvious . She’s a hero to me.
April 8th, 2005 at 1:40 pmVinilo, sorry.
April 8th, 2005 at 1:43 pmGuys, I love this blog, but this makes no sense. Have you read the fact-sheet PDF that you link to? It specifically says that they’re looking for a diverse subject pool and that they’re not targeting any racial or economic group. It also explicitly says that they’re going to take action if they find that a subject is using pesticides in a harmful way.
Seriously, unless you’ve got some proof that those claims are BS, this is a misguided post and Boxer shouldnot use this to spearhead her attack.
April 8th, 2005 at 4:26 pmUPDATE! 2:18 EDT
EPA kills project!
Read the press release here.
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=45568
Thank you Barbara Boxer and everyone who brought this disgusting program out into the daylight.
April 8th, 2005 at 5:49 pmOkay guys, I stopped testing pesticides on children. You can confirm me for the EPA now.
April 11th, 2005 at 6:56 pmThis article only underscores black hypocrisy and racism. The Negroes in this study volunteer to
participate and are PAID for their cooperation. That is nopt an example of white violence against
blacks. Whitey is so evil. But it tells a LOT about our victim mindset and anti-white hatred. When blacks are
exploited by whites with whom they voluntarily associate, it’s whitey’s fault. When whites are exploited by blacks
with whom we voluntarily associate, it’s whitey’s fault. Gee, isn’t that convenient! No matter what happens,
it’s whitey’s fault. Naw, no racism there.
July 15th, 2005 at 3:03 pmits too bad the actual reality of the study is that parents would be notified of dangerous levels of pesticides to their infants during the study.
talk about a blatant lie political use of wrong information
June 20th, 2006 at 5:04 pm