[UPDATE: Below are links to Exxon Mobil phthalates lobbying reports, including payments to at least five K St. hired gun lobby firms. UPDATE 2: Final conferee Dear Colleague letter with 50 signatures is here.]

Yesterday we released a new report: Total Recall: The Need for CPSC Reform Now. The report's key finding: Recalls are up 22% in 2008, despite the toy industry's claims they've cleaned up the worldwide mess they made just last year. Meanwhile, 50 members of the House, led by Rules Chair Louise Slaughter and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), sent conferees a strong new letter with 50 signers urging swift action to finish action on CPSC reform before the August recess. (Note: The current total is 50 signers , although this original letter had 37..)

While 95% of the conference is done, the Senate awaits an offer from the House on critical issues including the Senate bill's phthalate ban (we're for it and Exxon Mobil's against it) and the Senate bill's requirement that all toy hazards be subjected to the new third party testing requirements in both bills (we're for it). Yet, some House conferees are siding with the toy industry, which is demanding that a new provision (in neither bill now) be added that permanently preempts states from auditing or reviewing that new, untested third party testing requirement, or requiring new tests as new hazards arise. We are against that. These and other remaining conference issues, such as why whistleblower protection will improve product safety, are discussed in the report. Links to ExxonMobil lobby reports listing their phthalate lobbying efforts are after the "continue reading" jump: