Consumers Win on Product Liability

Senator Ernest F. "Fritz" Hollings (D-SC) differing views on proposals to establish Exon, who was hospitalized, was one of crafted a major upset victory for alternative compensation systems which the senators whose proxies Hollings pro- American consumers when his lead- would reduce the need for lawsuits. duced in his masterful strategic victory. ership blocked anti-consumer product liabili- Senators Slade Gorton (R-WA) and Christo- "The bill is not dead," says Kimmelman, ty legislation in the Senate Commerce, pher Dodd (D-CN) have proposed that an "but the committee vote is both a fantastic Science and Technology Committee. administrative procedure be established victory for victims and a significant set- Hollings' masterful strategy surprised the whereby persons injured by defective prod- back to those who would impede recovery proponents of S. 100 and denied a majority ucts could recover damages directly from for injuries caused by defective products to the bill, which would wipe out essential the manufacturer without going to court. and reduce incentives to manufacture safe consumer protections contained in current Damages, however, would be limited to costs ones—both of which S. 100 would do." state product liability laws. such as lost wages and medical care, pro- Kimmelman characterized the commit- In recognition of his role in a victory hibiting payments for pain and suffering tee vote as a "major embarrassment" for that was totally unforeseen, Hollings will or punitive damages. business representatives who were clearly receive a special Distinguished Public In seeking votes for S. 100, Danforth "outfoxed" by Hollings. Service Award at Consumer Federation of promised hearings on the latter proposals "The momentum is now going against America's 15th annual Awards Dinner on before attempting to bring the Kasten bill the business alliance which had already June 19. to the Senate floor. started to work the House side on this It didn't work. Senator J. James Exon issue," Kimmelman said, "assuming that their Senator Ernest F "Fritz" Hollings (DSC) (D-NE), who backed the bill last year, wrote position would prevail in the Senate." "The committee vote is Priest of the Yale University School of Law in a statement accompanying his proxy "no" "Fritz" Hollings upset that assumption and a fantastic victory for and Professor Keeton, former Dean of the vote: "This matter is too important to rush earned the gratitude of consumers which University of Texas School of Law, criti- a bill to the floor with the assumption CFA will publicly express June 19 at the victims and a significant cized the Kasten bill while explaining their that problems will be worked out later." Awards Dinner. setback, to those who would impede recovery for injuries caused by UN Passes Consumer defective products" Protection Guidelines-At Last The product liability bill, which would set federal standards for lawsuits brought by victims injured by defective products, The world consumer movement scored the principles—a common understanding was introduced in Congress for the third a significant and long-sought victory worldwide—of what constitutes basic, fair time by Senator Robert Kasten (R-WI). with the unanimous adoption of the United and sound consumer protection standards Though opposed by a broad-based coali- Nations Guidelines on Consumer Protec- and measures." tion of consumer groups, unions, trial tion by the UN General Assembly. IOCU consistently stresses concern for lawyers, state judges and attorneys general, "The overwhelming support in the all people of the world and its victory state- the bill was backed by a powerful and General Assembly sends a signal far and ment said "the Guidelines represent a solid well-financed business alliance of manufac- wide that consumerism is, indeed, global," new basis for our work to make the market- turers, distributors and wholesalers in the said Esther Peterson, America's First Lady place safer and more responsive to con- pharmaceutical, chemical, automobile, of Consumerism and a tireless worker for sumer needs—wherever the marketplace machine tool and insurance industries. the Guidelines as a volunteer UN lobbyist is located." That alliance prevailed in 1984 when the for the International Organization of Con- Opposition to the Guidelines came mainly Kasten bill passed in committee by an 11-5 sumers Unions (IOCU). from the United States. Though eventually vote, but it never reached the Senate floor. The Guidelines were finally adopted 10 agreeing to the consensus, Ambassador Alan A similar outcome was expected this time, years after the IOCU World Congress in L. Keyes, Alternate United States Represen- Esther Peterson though by a lesser margin. But Hollings' Sydney, Australia, called for development tative, left no doubt that the U.S. would mastery of the Congressional committee and passage of a worldwide Model Code have preferred to leave consumer ques- has a truly useful role to play in the process and his quiet collection of proxies for Consumer Protection. tions to individual nations and the power regulatory area," Ambassador Keyes said. resulted in an eight-to-eight tie vote, effec- The final compromise document contains of the free market. Peterson cited the 'outstanding leader- tively scuttling the bill for the present. separate guidelines dealing with physical U.S. objections included concerns that ship" of Qazi Shaukat Fersed of Pakistan Committee Chairman Senator John C. safety, protection of economic interests, the Guidelines are biased toward govern- and the active support of the Swedish dele- Danforth (R-MO) conceded that "we missed safety and quality standards, distribution ment intervention in the marketplace and gation with bringing about the final it" and said he had assumed the bill would facilities, rights of redress and consumer might be used as a rationale for protec- compromise. pass by 9-7. education. Food, water and pharmaceuticals tionist measures and/or discrimination Characteristically, she says little about her CFA Legislative Director Gene Kimmel- are dealt with in short, special sections against foreign investors. It also was un- own role. But she's obviously pleased that man said one of the factors in the turn- as "areas of essential concern for the health happy with the specificity of the sections the Guidelines are finally a"reality. "Accep- around was Danforth's organization of this of the consumer;' on food, water and pharmaceuticals. It tance of these principles, and strong infor- year's deliberations in which academics In hailing the victory, Lars Broch, IOCU's would have preferred that references to mation links on products that have been played a major role. Director, said: "Although the Guidelines do risks and hazards be stated and interpreted banned or severely restricted in various Twenty-four law school professors signed not contain all that we wanted, for the throughout as "unreasonable risks and countries, will be a great help to countries a letter opposing the bill. Key evaluations, first time ever, the world's most repre- hazards." without adequate consumer protections of requested by Danforth, from Professor sentative international body has agreed on "The U.S. remains dubious that the UN their own," she said.

CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA Page 2 May/June 1985 • CFAnews Consumers Want to Know: Will Interstate Banking Improve Service?

" Tf interstate banking is approved, con- CFA's testimony did not urge or endorse JLsumers are entitled to expect concrete any Congressional action. Fox said con- improvements in service." sumers want some answers before endors- That was the message Alan Fox, Con- ing any interstate banking proposal. The sumer Federation of America's Legislative questions he raised, stemming from the Representative, brought to a Congressional vast changes in financial services over the hearing on regional interstate banking past few years, are: before the House Subcommittee on Finan- • Will interstate banking hold down serv- cial Institutions Supervision, Regulation and ice costs which have made it increasingly Insurance. «•>»- ^F difficult for low- and moderate-income Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, families to maintain access to basic bank- Representative Fernand St Germain (D-RI), ing services? chairman of both the subcommittee and • Will it open new service opportunities its parent Committee on Banking, Finance for all in our communities—the 40 percent and Urban Affairs, and Fox all stressed of our families with under $1,000 in finan- the need for safeguards in any interstate cial assets as well as those with higher banking legislation. incomes which the system seems to serve St Germain called for "hard, essential so well already? f H^H ^n^^ ^B^^l and fast ground rules" in conjunction with • Will interstate banking reduce the time any further geographical banking expan- WJ/fiJOZ HM ' banks hold our checks? sion. "The ground rules," he said, "must =». 1 • Will interstate banking result in safe American Bankers Association President, James G. Cairns, Jr., left, listens as Legislative Representative assure the safety and soundness of the Alan Fox delivers CFA testimony on interstate banking to House subcommittee and soundly managed banks? banking industry, community and con- Fox reiterated CFA's continuing concern sumer services and benefits, and the preser- (2) It must require that service to all con- concentration of economic resources, and that broadening interstate banking could vation and strengthening of economic and sumers be enhanced, specifically including assuring benefits to the users of banking increase mergers and acquisitions, resulting banking competition." the deposit and credit needs of low- and services." in undue levels of concentration. He also His observations were similar to those middle-income consumers and of small busi- He urged Congress not to wait until the said that any legislation should require made by Fox in CFA's prepared testimony. nesses; and Supreme Court acted on the constitution- regulatory agencies to find that any expan- "If interstate banking legislation is to meet ality of regional reciprocal banking pacts—a sion results in actual benefits to consumers (3) It must not impair to any degree the consumers' needs," he said, "CFA believes decision handed down June 10, making —specific benefits for which the institution safety of the banking system. it must meet three tests." moot the question of which branch of gov- may be held accountable." Those tests are: Chairman Volcker told the subcommittee ernment would act first. The Court ruled 'The average consumer on the street isn't (1) It must be designed to actually add that the time has come for Congress to that states may band together in regional demanding interstate banking," Fox said, new competitors to local markets, not just authorize some interstate banking "while agreements to permit interstate banking "but he or she does want something done provide absentee ownership to established also protecting the safety and efficiency without having to open their doors to banks about the deterioration of service we have institutions; of the banking system, preventing undue from all states. been subjected to over the past few years." CFA Scores Federal Reserve Tele-Consumer Hotline Expands Study on Bank Fees and Charges Its Services

The Tele-Consumer Hotline recently ex- In a detailed critique, the Consumer Brobeck. "This bias was expressed in numer- low and lower middle income families with tended its services to seven Rocky Federation of America severely criti- ous ways." checking accounts. The study contains data Mountain and five Southwestern states, it cized a widely publicized report by Selection of Sources: The analysis of showing the proportion of the poorest 10 continues to serve consumers in six Mid- the Federal Reserve Board on bank fees those without checking or savings accounts percent with checking fell from 56 percent Atlantic states. and charges. CFA Executive Director is based almost entirely on an outdated in 1977 to 44 percent in 1983. This new The Hotline was established by Consumer Stephen Brobeck called the Fed report "a 1973 survey. Moreover, the report bases and important finding was ignored by the Federation of America and Tele-Communi- highly biased attempt to justify substantial its conclusion that most banks offer free report's conclusions. cations Research and Action Center (TRAC) hikes in bank fees and charges."He added services to seniors on one survey to which "Even more disappointing than the last summer to assist residential phone that "the report refuses to acknowledge 11 percent of banks responded, despite report's bias," stated Brobeck, "is its neglect customers confused by divestiture-related its own data which indicates that low and the fact that several more complete and of the most important questions about the changes. Consumers can obtain informa- lower middle income families have been accurate local surveys, which the Fed chose consumer impact of rising bank fees. In tion by calling a toll-free hotline or writing hardest hit by skyrocketing bank fees." to ignore, suggest much lower percentages fact, despite the report's title, there is no for fact sheets comparing long-distance At the same time, House Banking Chair- of banks offering free services. systematic analysis of consumer economic services. man Fernand St Germain released his letter Failure to Remember the Limita- impacts—no analysis of banking services Currently the Hotline is receiving more to Fed Chairman Paul Volcker criticizing tion of Sources: In its conclusions, the consumers need, no analysis of those many than 500 calls a week and numerous re- the report as "incomplete and unsatisfac- Fed report often forgets the limitations of families which gave up checking accounts, quests for printed materials. One magazine tory." St Germain took the Fed to task its sources. The analysis of checking ac- no economic analysis of the differential article alone generated around 30,000 re- especially for failing "to assess the effect count profitability, for example, is based impacts of rising fees on different income quests for information. of fee increases in the context of the full on data volunteered by a tiny (1 percent) classes." In periodic surveys, callers have expressed range of costs consumers incur in obtain- and unrepresentative sample of Fed mem- 'The report is particularly disappointing;' a high degree of satisfaction with the serv- ing needed banking services." ber banks. Despite expected bias, no effort concluded Brobeck, "because the Federal ice. Typically, about 70 percent say they The 90-page Fed study seeks to justify was made to confirm this data. Reserve's expertise and resources make it would "definitely recommend" the hotline rising bank fees by supporting two argu- Incomplete, Biased Analysis of the best suited of all institutions to objec- to a friend while more than 10 percent ments. First, bank costs have escalated as Data: The Fed report understates the tively and thoroughly investigate the con- indicate they probably would do so. rapidly as fees. And second, fee increases magnitude of fee increases because it ig- sumer impact of rising bank charges. In- The hotline is directed by Susan Katz, have not harmed consumers. The report nored the substantial rise in the number stead, it produced a report that is trans- who reports to a Board with representa- is organized into three sections—service of services for which banks levied a charge. parent in its goal of justifying current bank tives from CFA, TRAC, American Associa- charges and fee schedules, personal check- It also ignores what concerns many bank practices. Regrettably, this only provides tion of Retired Persons, National Associa- ing account analysis, and service charges critics the most—exceptionally high prices ammunition to those who charge that the tion of Consumer Affairs Administrators, fmm the consumers' perspective. charged by a minority of institutions. Fed acts only in the interest of its member and other consumer groups. Representa- Section by section, the CFA critique evalu- Refusal to Acknowledge Data Con- banks, not in the broader public interest." tives from Bell Atlantic, Southwestern Bell, ates the Fed's 17 conclusions and their tradicting Its Thesis: The report seeks Mountain Bell, AT&T Communications, GTE- underlying methodology. The critique docu- to discount the most important data it con- Sprint, SBS Skyline, and Allnet serve on ments a "strong pro-bank, anti-consumer tains—statistically significant evidence of (The critique is available from CFA for an Advisory Board which provides tech- bias which permeates the Fed report," said a substantial decline in the proportion of $5; free to CFA members.) nical assistance. May/June 1985 • CFAnews Page 3 CFA Battles for Lifeline Phones

Consumer Federation of America Kimmelman points out that "while the continues to battle for lifeline phone phone companies give lip service to the service and has called on the federal lifeline concept, their definition differs government to renew its commitment to dramatically from ours." universal service by preventing further CFA's proposal is a basic, simple and cheap dramatic increases in local rates. phone service affordable to all consumers In formal comments filed with the Federal and targeted to those least able to afford Communications Commission (FCC), CFA it. In Ringing Off The Wall, it is pointed said "it is essential" that the commission out that most of the people who will be establish a lifeline service fund to protect forced to do without phone service—or those least able to afford basic phone to do without some other basic necessities service." in order to afford a phone—are precisely CFA and the U.S. Public Interest Research those already hardest hit by recent and Group (PIRG) also released a report en- continuing reductions in poverty programs. titled Ringing Off The Wall which They are, overwhelmingly, public assistance documents an alarming increase in residen- recipients, the elderly and the infirm. tial phone rates during the two years im- Affordable local phone rates have tradi- mediately following announcement of the tionally been maintained by requiring users AT&T divestiture. The report was written of all telephone services to support the by Dr. Mark Cooper, CFA's Energy Director; public network and CFA believes this financ- CFA Legislative Director Gene Kimmelman, ing method should be expanded to cover and Pamela Gilbert, Staff Attorney at a federal lifeline program. But what Kim- U.S.PfRG. melman calls "an ominous trend" involves revolutionary changes in telephone pric- "When all the numbers ing. During the past year, local rates have risen and long-distance rates have dropped. are added up, Since most consumers spend less than consumers will have $10 per month on long-distance calls, the lower rates make little difference. "What been slapped with good is cheaper chrome if you can't afford approximately $6 the Cadillac?," Kimmelman asks. Cooper estimates that in the next year billion in local rate and a half, local rate increases, combined increases in three and with federally-imposed access charges, will increase local phone bills by $3.5 billion. a half years:" That's on top of more than $2 billion by which local residential phone bills rose in Its conclusion is that rising local rates the first year following the divestiture. When all the numbers are added up, tion and increased public representation may drive as many as six million people CFA data reveals that rate increases are they mean that telephone consumers will at rate hearings "to preserve meaningful, off the telephone network by the end of pending in 15 of the 33 states surveyed have been slapped with approximately $6 universally affordable telephone service." 1986. "This is a significant and unaccept- so far this year. And in 14 of those 15 billion in local rate increases in a three-and- Two bills now pending before Congress able erosion of the goal of universal tele- states, the increase will be the second since a-half year period. "These are unprece- meet CFA's criteria for basic, simple and phone service," the report says. the AT&T breakup. dented rate hikes for a period of low infla- cheap lifeline service. Both H.R. 151, spon- tion;1 Cooper says. sored by Representatives Mickey Leland Nevertheless, the phone companies chal- (D-TX) and Edward Markey (D-MA), and lenge the need for federal intervention. S. 950, sponsored by Senators John Heinz Public Citizen Book Charges While they agree that lifeline is important; (R-PA) and John Chafee (R-RI), would en- their concept of it includes three compo- sure that no households need be without Reagan 'Retreat From Safety' nents which CFA opposes. phone service because they cannot afford it. Those components are local measured Kimmelman believes such legislation is service; subsidization—if any—to be fi- essential. "The industry's message," he says, President Joan Claybrook and the staff of Public Citizen have carefully docu- nanced by tax revenues, and all administra- "is 'trust us, we'll take care of you.' In view tion and verification of lifeline service to of the recent history of rate increases, con- mented the Reagan Administration's systematic repeal of substantial consumer 1 protections in "Retreat From Safety" ($8.95), published by Pantheon Books. be handled by welfare agencies. sumers are rightly skeptical of that message! Sub-titled "Reagan's Attack on America's Local measured service is already being Health," the book's thesis is that candidate introduced by phone companies across the Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign promise country. Under this plan, consumers pay to "get government off our backs" is a for calls based on the time of day when IJJSMM promise he kept all too well—to the great they are made, their length and distance. on detriment of American consumers. The Modified versions charge a basic fee for CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA promise has turned out to mean abolishing a dial tone and additional amounts per call. 1424 16th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 thd many safety standards "that irked big "CFA believes in flexibility for the states," (202) 387-6121 business, but also happened, at the same Kimmelman says, "but local measured serv- time, to protect the health and safety ice is needlessly complicated and could well President: Jean Ann Fox end up costing consumers more than the Executive Director: Stephen Brobeck of millions of Americans at home and Legislative Director: Gene Kimmelman BOOK in the workplace." basic service to which they are accustomed." Administrative Director: Erika Landberg The retreats cover a wide range of con- The federation's stand is that universal Legislative Representative: Alan Fox sumer concerns, as the chapter headings phone service is not a welfare program, Energy Director: Mark Cooper SHELF but a service for which the phone com- Public Affairs Director: Jack Gillis show: Infant Formula, Food and Nutri- Product Safety Director: Mary Ellen Fise tion, Drugs, Product Safety, Health and Safety of Workers, Environmental Protection, panies have traditionally been responsible. Product Safety Coordinator: Edith Furst Transportation Safety, and Energy. Its FCC comments call for self-certified leni- Secretary: Lydia Rivera Grogan ent standards to qualify for lifeline, much Secretary/Researcher: Lisa Goldstein "Retreat From Safety" says the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Administrative Assistant: Miguel Carpio "has reached its lowest ebb" in the Reagan Administration. But Congress shares like the federal standards for the school the blame for its decline. The chapter on product safety details Congressional maneuver- lunch program. CFAnews Editor: Terry Schuette ing on CPSC's reauthorization which "permits the crippled agency to stagger on, Kimmelman says this approach avoids but without increasing its funding ceiling or personnel level." a heavy administrative burden and leaves it to the companies to ascertain whether CFAnews is published 8 times a year. Annual subscription Most consumer activists probably already know much of the sad story narrated rate is $25 per year. in "Retreat From Safety." For them, it is a concise resource manual of how far and to what extent the program is being abused or errors are occurring. ©Copyright 1985 by Consumer Federation of America. CFA we have come—or gone—in the Reagan years. For the general reader, it is an eye- should be credited for all material. All Rights Reserved. opening look at how America's health and safety are being undermined by the In addition to lifeline service, Ringing same government agencies originally created to protect them. Off The Wall calls for rate relief legisla- Design A. Typeset by: Design Consultants, Inc. Page 4 May/June 1985 • CFAnews Tough Choices for Consumerists

by Stephen Brobeck, Executive Director prices when safety belts provide almost as much protection. Should we continue simply to insist that consumers pay these additional costs? Or should we direct our efforts, (This is an edited version of an address delivered to instead, to convince citizens that passive restraints are well worth the expense? Consumer Assembly 1985.) A third difficult question is: How do we resolve conflicts betwen different consumer To the world, Consumer Federation of America values? Consumers consider several factors—safety, performance, convenience and cost. probably seems pretty sure of itself. Our policies What position do advocates take on issues when these values conflict—when safety are usually very clear. And we advocate them ag- improvements, for instance, cost a great deal of money? Our decisions are complicated gressively and unambiguously. by the fact that most consumers, especially the poor, predictably value cost above safety. But underlying our policy and strategic decisions A fourth tough question is: What is our obligation to organizations and constituencies are tough choices which the Consumer Movement with whom we have worked closely over the years? On most issues their interests does not spend enough time considering. This article are identical or complementary to ours. But this is not always the case. How do con- raises five such questions. sumerists respond when their trade union allies call for restraints on international The first one is: What consumers do we represent? trade, or when small farmers advocate higher commodities' prices? We seek to represent them all, but this is often Some of these constituencies are in desperate shape. Many industrial workers have impossible. Many issues affect one class of consumers exhausted their unemployment benefits. Hundreds of thousands of farmers face loss far more than others. And the interests of different of their livelihood. classes sometimes conflict. WASHINGTON Are consumers obligated to some groups for support on consumer issues? Labor Current banking issues are a case in point. New lobbyists, especially, can legitimately claim much of the credit for hundreds of federal accounts have been created. Pricing has become PERSPECTIVE and state consumer protection laws. much more complex. But these changes are largely The final tough choice concerns our relationship to the business community. Is irrelevant to the poor who cannot afford such services. And savings disclosure reforms it an evil to be eradicated? Or is it a beneficial force providing desired products and benefit only the small percentage of all families with substantial deposits, lb what jobs and creating wealth? Most basically, are its interests and ours complementary or extent, then, should advocates marshal their limited resources behind truth-in-savings? opposed, or both? Our answers determine whether we conclude corporations can The problem of whom we should represent also is illustrated by the issue of cross- be reformed from within, or whether only public and/or governmental pressure can subsidies. Without subsidies, a large proportion of rural families could not afford change corporate behavior. phones and electricity. Should free market forces work unfettered by government If alliances with businesses are sometimes expedient, how do we relate to business intervention? Or should we insist on cross-subsidies that reduce the disparity? representatives? Should we develop personal relationships? What about corporate fund- What position do we take on subsidies to the poor, who in recent years have watched ing? Should consumer groups take money from corporations for services? Should utility bills eat away their limited incomes? What limits, if any, do we place on the we accept outright contributions? There are no easy answers. amount of service which is to be subsidized? I would emphasize that there are great risks in considering such issues. An obsession A second set of tough choices involves determining what is actually in the consumer with them can be enervating—paralysis through analysis. But we have a responsibility interest. At one extreme, we can simply consult and mirror consumer opinion. At to address them or run the risk of failing to adequately represent the consumer the other, we can use our own analysis as our policy basis. Most of us recognize interest. To the extent that such failure exists, we also risk losing the strong public that both approaches must be combined. Yet there are widespread differences on support which is the source of our continuing influence. how and with which emphasis. Most important of all, we have a moral responsibility to ourselves. In my view, For example, outside Washington I have encountered more opposition to mandatory the Consumer Movement is concerned with social justice and social progress. We automobile air bags than to any other position we advocate. While some of this resistance can not responsibly advocate the public interest without addressing fundamental ethical is based on misinformation, a portion reflects an unwillingness to pay Detroit's inflated questions. CFA Elects Officers; BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE Jean Ann Fox Is PAID WASHINGTON, D.C. President PERMIT NO. 8772 Jean Ann Fox, a past president of the Pennsylvania Citizens Con- sumer Council, current secretary- treasurer of the Board of Directors of Consumers Union and a member of the Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, is the new president of Con- sumer Federation of America. She replaces Ellen Haas, who served as CFA's president, immediate past presi- dent or vice president for more than 10 years. Jean Ann fbx Kenneth S. Kovack, legislative representative of the United Steelworkers of America, will serve another term as secretary-treasurer. Officers were elected at CFA's annual board meeting. Serving with Fox and Kovack as vice presidents are: Ann Brown of Americans for Democratic Action; Jacob Clayman, National Council of Senior Citizens; Ellen Haas, Public Voice for Food and Health Policy; Bill Matson, Pennsylvania League for Consumer Protection; Arnold Mayer, United Food and Commercial Workers; Alex Radin, American Public Power Associa- tion; Lee Richardson, Maryland Citizens Consumer Council, and Mark Silbergeld of Consumers Union. Members of the Board of Directors, elected for three-year terms, are: John Brown, International Union of Operating Engineers; Clyde Chapman, Consumer Affairs Association; Vernon Dalton, Wells Rural Electric Cooperative; Hildred Drew, United Auto Workers; Joe Hansknecht, Jr., League Insurance Group; Robert Harbrandt, AFL-CIO Food and Allied Service Trades; Richard McClintock, Missouri Public Interest Research Group; Dan McCurry, Chicago Consumer Coalition; Barbara Slusher, American Council on Consumer In- terests, and Nell Weekley, Louisiana Consumers League. Stewart Kohl of the Cooperative League of the U.S.A. was elected to the single board seat which is for a one-year term. The president, secretary- treasurer and eight vice presidents also are elected for one-year terms.