Despite overwhelming support for the bill passed earlier this month in the Washington House and Senate, Gov. Christine Gregoire is contemplating a veto of the strictest toy safety rules in the nation. 

The rules would dramatically reduce the amount of lead, cadmium and plasticizing chemicals allowed in children’s products made and sold in the state.  

A growing number of toy vendors and manufacturers across the country worry the well-meaning legislation - with safeguards they largely endorse - could have unintended consequences because of the way it was drafted.  Gregoire says that she met with Mattel and Hasbro officials and took their concerns to heart. 

Industry representatives initially called for weaker restrictions on the toxic ingredients.  They now seem focused on Washington’s failure to exempt the lead solder used on computer components enclosed within some electronics - proposed federal safety rules allow for its use. 

Gregoire says she’s looking for ways to deal with the omission without vetoing the entire bill. 

Before approving the legislation, lawmakers pushed through a long list of amendments to narrow its scope, including exemptions for pellet guns, model rockets, tricycles, athletic shoes, pocketknives, roller skates, sporting gear, sleds and skis.  The bill already had exemptions for batteries, darts, chemistry sets, computer games and software, wireless phones and calculators.  

As written, the bill would go into effect July 2009.