Consumer groups call for stronger regulation, send Obama second term wish list

A coalition of consumer advocacy groups sent to the White House and Congress a wide-ranging list of measures they say would improve federal protections. 

In letters sent Friday to President Obama and House and Senate leaders, the groups called for further implementation of the Affordable Care and Dodd-Frank acts, adoption of sweeping new food safety proposals and tougher standards for products designed for toddlers and infants. They also urged measures to improve transparency at the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, which reviews proposed rules before they are enacted.

The groups decried “misleading and inaccurate rhetoric” painting federal regulations as job-killing actions that further weaken the nation’s sputtering economy.

“Regulations are often the only means by which government agencies, often at the direction of Congress, can act to protect the public from documented emerging threats,” the groups wrote in the letter to Obama. “Americans overwhelmingly support regulations that make products and food safer, the environment cleaner and our workers safer.”

They also urged Congress to oppose newly re-introduced legislation to limit executive power by giving sway over any proposed federal rules that cost more than $100 million.

The proposal was signed by leaders at Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National Consumers League, National Consumer Law Center, Public Citizen, and U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

This story was updated atr 1:36 p.m. to clarify the groups' stance on legislation seeking to limit executive power.