Mold sufferers are waiting for those in power to understand the dangerous health effects of toxic mold and create new laws and regulations to protect families. But who could be in a better position to make changes than former President George Bush?
It’s a little known fact, but the Bush family had a mold problem of their own in their pre-White House days. In early, 1999 the Governor’s Mansion in Austin Texas had a growing fungal contamination. The 152 year-old building and historic site has had a history of mold problems that continue to this day.
Texas is one of the moldiest states in the U.S. due to the high humidity of the Gulf Coast region, and more insurance claims regarding mold are filed in Texas than any other state. So it’s not a stretch to imagine that even a well-maintained building like the Governor’s mansion could develop a mold problem.
Laura Bush complained of health problems and the building was tested for molds. The decontamination effort cost over $300,000 in taxpayer money. Reportedly, the Bushes were very pleased with the difference made in the restored indoor air quality.
The same year 44,000 mold insurance claims were filed in Texas and many victims believed that Bush would be a strong advocate for indoor air quality as President of the United States. But after 8 years in office, Bush made no effort to improve or create federal regulations for indoor air quality.
Some speculate the reason for his ambivalence is political. Campaign fund contributors – insurance company executives, PACs, builders – would be adversely impacted by liability issues if new legislation was created. For this reason, the mold problem in the governor’s mansion was downplayed.
As long as mold faces political hurtles, it may be some time before real change is made by the government. There are too many sides with too much money at stake to sit idly by while the government creates new standards that affect the way they do business.
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