This is in regard to a new Maine law, “Regulation of Chemical Use in Children’s Products.”

It is another classic example of a legislative misnomer used to instill fear and create false government oversight that will more than likely have a negative impact on all manufacturing (especially small business, i.e., fewer than 10 employees) and, at the same time, duplicate an existing federal mandate at the local level. (Another recent, blatant example of a misnomer was Senate President Libby Mitchell’s failed attempt to mandate paid sick leave under the guise of preventing the spread of the H1N1 flu.)

It’s important that consideration be given to the impact the legislation will have on a still thriving (at least for now), albeit small, manufacturing sector of the Maine economy.

Lewiston-Auburn has been an industrial center for Maine; let’s not impose another negative mandate on manufacturing.

Raymond Lagueux, Lewiston