Like many other Americans, executives in the fireworks industry think the Obama administration is “insane,” but they have their own reasons.
With the Fourth of July season in full swing, sales of fireworks are expected to top $1 billion this year. But the industry says it still has one major obstacle, according to Politico. And it’s the same one facing other American businesses:
Stifling regulations from the Obama administration.
American Pyrotechnics Association executive director Julie Heckman told Politico the Obama administration’s interference is unprecedented — thanks to the seemingly endless layers of bureaucracy it has to navigate.
“I’ve been working with the industry for a very long time, 26 years. I have never seen as many rulemaking initiatives as I have with this administration. It has just been completely insane,” she said. “You know, I’m not saying it’s necessary, but it would be really great when — take a tiny industry like fireworks, and we’ve got to comply with ATF, CPSC, EPA, OSHA, multiple divisions of the Department of Transportation, it’s really challenging. It would be great if we could have one agency that took care of everything, and I’m sure there are other industries that are also feeling that pain, but it has been very significant.”
Other American industries — most notably, energy production — have faced administrative assaults from Washington for the past six years. But Heckman said it’s particularly difficult for the fireworks industry to get helpful legislation because it doesn’t have the deep pockets to hire lobbyists.
“We’re a very tiny industry, just barely over a billion dollars. We don’t have big lobbying dollars. You can talk about lobbying, you’re looking at the lobbyist right here,” she said.
“We have a great commodity, we have a great industry record to promote, and I think when we do go to Capitol Hill for support, members of Congress listen to us. I mean, we’re small — [we] represent small family businesses who are trying to do their very best to survive. And so, we pick and choose our asks very carefully. We want the industry to be regulated, we just want common sense regulations.”
From the Obama administration?
Heckman shouldn’t hold her breath.
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- Britney Spears shows off her rockin’ new bod, but had to spoil it with a liberal message about ‘Dreamers’ - December 24, 2017
- Border patrol forget they’re supposed to be heartless, deliver beautiful baby at the border - December 24, 2017
- After scoring tax cut victory, Trump sees ‘tremendous Democrat support’ for his next big initiative - December 24, 2017
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
Comments are closed.