Conflicts of Interest of Interest

House committee to investigate EPA panel members' conflicts of interest

Posted at 7:22 AM on 18 Mar 2008

A House committee has opened an investigation into possible conflicts of interest concerning members of U.S. EPA expert panels that advise the agency on matters such as banning or restricting the use of certain toxic chemicals. The EPA stirred up controversy last year when it dismissed a toxicologist from a panel that was reviewing the potential health dangers of deca, a flame retardant widely used in electronics, after the American Chemistry Council claimed the expert was biased toward banning it. However, efforts to weed out potentially biased panel members with direct ties to industry have been much less successful. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which will be conducting the investigation, cited eight cases of EPA advisory panel members or consultants who were getting direct support for their research from the chemical industry. The Environmental Working Group last month said it also found a number of industry-related conflicts of interest on EPA panels.

sources: Associated Press, Los Angeles Times

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Comments: (3 comments)

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I'll be Waiting

For the Cross Reference list showing the members of the committee that have accepted money from the same companies the panel members were associated with.

by morganmghee at 10:48 AM on 18 Mar 2008

Who's Running Things?

Let's face reality: the U.S. is primarily a fascist nation, fascism being a system where big business runs the government. Merely being allowed to vote for one of two pro-corporate candidates does not a democracy make. The only thing that keeps the U.S. from being totally fascist is the very small amount of control that ordinary people have over governmental affairs.

by Wolverine at 3:05 PM on 18 Mar 2008

Agreement

I agree with wolverine.This is a fascist state,a fact I thought that I would never ever have to face as real in america.We are also an oligarchy,a government the is controled by a few powerful people or groups,such as in this case"Big Business".
Nothing can or will happen when faced up against extreme wealth that CEO's and their companies have to use against us.They make the rules,they buy the politicians,they start the wars,they control the system Worldwide.Read the book"Circle of Intrigue"by Texe Marrs,Living Truth Publishers,Austin,Texas.

Why not ask why!?

by usandthem at 9:19 PM on 22 Mar 2008

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