Tauzin plans Sept. 6 committee hearing on Bridgestone/Firestone recall

WASHINGTON (Aug. 29)—Rep. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, R-La., chairman of the House Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer Protection, will chair a joint hearing of his and another Commerce subcommittee Sept. 6 on Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.´s recall of 6.5 million ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires. Tauzin´s hearing is scheduled the same day as the Senate Commerce Committee hearing called by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., but a Tauzin spokesman said Tauzin was unconcerned. "Their hearing might slop over a little with ours," he said, "but we can´t be concerned with what the Senate does." The goal of the hearing, the spokesman said, is to determine "who knew what, and when" and determine whether the laws governing tire safety recalls should be changed.