Staples Silent On Bedbug Epidemic Safety

If you've read the newspapers lately then you know that the United States is currently experiencing a bedbug problem of epidemic proportions. Now one would expect that in light of this we would hear from Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, especially about consumer safety and the appropriate insecticides to be used to fight the bedbug problem -- after all, just because an insecticide is appropriate for an agricultural crop or some other use doesn't mean it is appropriate (or safe) for use on beds, where there is a lot of skin contact.

In Texas, it is the Department of Agriculture that is responsible for insecticide control and safety (including those meant for home use). But Staples has been strangely silent about the bedbug epidemic or the safest way to control it for consumers. I guess this should come as no surprise since Staples testified for a bill in 2009 that reduced consumer safety guarantees in the insecticide industry (after receiving about $9,000 from the state's pest control and apartment PACs).

Hank Gilbert, Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner, thinks Staples has once again let Texas consumers down on a safety issue. Here is what Hank has to say on this issue:

"Given the issues in other states with the misapplication of commercial pesticides to combat the bed bug epidemic, it is astonishing that the Texas Department of Agriculture isn't doing a thing to inform and educate consumers about the dangers of pesticide misapplication or in how to find applicators licensed to treat bed bugs."

"The EPA recently issued a warning to consumers about using chemicals meant for outdoor use inside to treat bedbugs, and warned consumers about unscrupulous pest control companies trying to take advantage of people with bedbug problems. It is inexcusable that Todd Staples is abdicating his responsibility to protect Texans to the federal government when he is in charge of the agency that regulates pest control in Texas."

"Who knows how bad the problem is, or how many people are misapplying pesticides or getting taken by unscrupulous exterminators because TDA hasn't bothered to educate the public. It is a disservice not only to consumers but to all of the licensed pest control applicators out there. If TDA doesn't tell consumers what to look for when hiring a pest control company, unscrupulous companies will take advantage of consumers and take business away from the legitimate operators."

"Most Texans have no idea that the Department of Agriculture is the regulatory agency that supervises the licensed exterminators in their area. And, how would they? Staples' TDA has done a terrible job letting consumers know that they regulate this."

"Buried in Senate Bill 1016 in 2009, there are enactments that weaken consumer protection with regard to structural pest control. Todd Staples personally appeared before the Senate and House committees considering this legislation and testified on it. He should have taken that opportunity to speak out against weakening consumer protections, but he didn't."

"Instead of taking a stand against weakening consumer protections, Staples just sided with the groups who wanted these consumer protections weakened and had given him thousands of dollars."