Friedman Proposes a Freeze on Funds to Halt Medfly Spraying

State Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Tarzana) joined the widening legislative war against malathion spraying Wednesday, announcing a proposal to “hold hostage” $6 million in funds earmarked for the Department of Food and Agriculture until its eradication program is stopped.

“Some say we should hold the entire food and agriculture budget hostage,” said Friedman, a member of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. “Well, we’re going to start in a reasonable way.”

Friedman said his proposal is aimed at hitting the department where it counts--in the pocketbook. “By holding the . . . budget hostage, we hope to pressure the department into changing its pest control approach to something that is human-friendly and environmentally sensitive,” he said.

Friedman was joined at the press conference Wednesday in Van Nuys by Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) who also unveiled a new proposal to stop the state’s aerial spraying program. Hayden’s bill, which is expected to be introduced Friday, proposes that farmers bear the entire cost of eradicating the Mediterranean fruit fly.

“The Legislature must act now, using its budgeting and oversight authority to reverse the policies that are making helicopter spraying a permanent way of life,” Hayden said.

The Department of Food and Agriculture estimates the current eradication program in Southern California will cost about $30 million. The federal government has agreed to pay about half the bill and the rest of the money is from the state’s General Fund.

Hayden’s bill also would require a thorough environmental review before any emergency eradication program could begin and create stricter health safety standards on the use of any pesticide.

The efforts by Friedman and Hayden mark are the latest in a series of legislative proposals that have been introduced in the past month. State Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) announced two bills last month aimed at outlawing repeated aerial malathion spraying in urban areas. A hearing on one of the bills is scheduled for next month.

Assemblyman Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles) unveiled a proposal last week that would eliminate the current one year statute of limitations on lawsuits arising from the Medfly eradication campaign and make the state liable for any future claim. He also requested elimination all funding for the spraying program.

Friedman’s proposal targets a portion of the Department of Food and Agricultures $152 million budget concerning pesticide registration.

Isi Siddiqui, assistant director of the department, said Friedman’s proposal will have no effect on aerial spraying and only jeopardizes an important program that insures that pesticides are properly reviewed.

“It’s purely political posturing,” he said of Friedman’s proposal. “What this does is stop a program that is a model for the whole nation.”

Friedman replied that the pesticide registration funds are an appropriate area to freeze because without them no new agricultural chemicals could be released for use.

The proposal will be reviewed during budget discussions beginning next month and would only take effect only after the start of the new fiscal year in July.