Over the objections of dentists, a Louisiana Senate committee advanced a bill Wednesday that would set an almost impossibly high bar for public systems to add fluoride to their drinking water supply.
In its original state, Senate Bill 2 by Sen. Mike Fesi, R-Houma, would have prohibited public water systems from fluoridating their water, which is done to prevent tooth decay. The practice began in the United States in the 1940s and is widely supported by major dental and medical associations.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee amended the bill to allow fluoridation only if voters approve, which would involve what committee chair and bill co-author Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, described as an “incredibly difficult” process.
The legislation advanced after the committee approved the amendments, which Sen. Gerald Beaudreaux, D-Lafayette, put forward before ultimately voting against the bill. The changes would allow local residents to vote on whether they want their system to be fluoridated, but only after at least 15% of voters the system services petition for the election.
Source: Louisiana Legislature weighs removing fluoride from public water systems / Louisiana Illuminator
The public knows what we advise on community water fluoridation and why. If they don’t want it… we have nothing to add to our message.
I say we use reverse psychology and start celebrating when states or communities remove fluoride from drinking water… that’ll get them re-thinking it.