Tenenbaum would bring enormous talent to product safety commission

South Carolina’s Inez Tenenbaum was an inspired choice by President Barack Obama to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The former state superintendent of education — one of the first S.C. Democrats to support Obama in his primary race against Hillary Clinton in 2008 — will bring credibility, executive experience and passion to the position.
All three qualities will be important in overseeing the manufacturing, distribution and sale of consumer products and in quelling criticism of the agency.
Confirmation hearings for Tenenbaum began in Washington last week, and she’s expected to sail through before the August recess.
She was praised by those who know her. Through her testimony, she showed the Senate why she would flourish in the job.
“If confirmed as the new chairman, I will reassure America’s families that their government can and will protect them from unknown or unforeseen dangers in the products they use,” Tenenbaum said.
Tenenbaum’s statement was an important reassurance. The agency’s budget was cut by former President George Bush. It was criticized for not doing enough to protect consumers from such dangers as lead-tainted toys and drywall manufactured in China.
U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., was a former Tenenbaum rival, defeating her in 2004 when they ran for the seat vacated by Democrat Ernest “Fritz” Hollings. DeMint and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., introduced Tenenbaum to the Senate Commerce Committee on Monday.
“My support means that I hope she won’t run against me again,” DeMint said deadpanned.
“My only reservation in endorsing Inez is that my endorsement might hurt her,” he joked, alluding to his reputation as a hard-line conservative.
California Sen. Barbara Boxer said to laughter: “Anyone who has earned the support of Sen. Fritz Hollings and Sen. Lindsey Graham and Sen. Jim DeMint is a person of great ability.”
All joking aside, DeMint and other senators understand what’s at stake with the agency. The leader must strike a balance between keeping people safe and allowing businesses to flourish. “That’s a huge challenge right now,” DeMint said. “The morale at the agency is very low. There’s been a lot of criticism, and we’ve just increased their budget by 70 percent. And they’re going to go to 700 or 800 employees. So she’s going to have a full plate when she takes office.”
The biggest issue facing the agency involves China. In 1973, when the agency was established, most consumer products were made in the United States. Now, two-thirds are imported, the majority from China. Americans are increasingly wary of Chinese products.
Tenenbaum served well as a state employee. She started in the S.C. Department of Social Services and later worked as director of research for the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee of the state House of Representatives. She was State Superintendent of Education for eight years (1999-2007).
“It’s a big honor for all the people of South Carolina to have Inez nominated for such an important job,” Graham said. “She is an enormously talented person.”
We second Graham’s sentiment and hope Tenenbaum’s confirmed quickly. She has a lot of work to do.

— Unsigned editorials represent the views of this newspaper. Editorial board members are Mark Laskowski (regional publisher), James Bennett (regional editor), Sam Bundy (sports editor), Kimberly Ginfrida (news editor), David Johnson (regional circulation director), Charles Tomlinson (Lake City News & Post editor) and Jackie Torok (metro editor).