USA - Fluoride bill clears House committee

Fluoride bill clears House committee
By John Lyon
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — A Senate bill to require water systems in Arkansas serving 5,000 or more people to add fluoride to public drinking water cleared a House committee today and heads next to a House vote, the last hurdle before final passage.
The House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee endorsed Senate Bill 359 by Sen. David Johnson, D-Little Rock, in a voice vote. A few “no” votes were heard.
The hearing was held in a packed committee room. Some in the audience wore pro-fluoride stickers, while some opponents of the bill stood in the hallway outside the room holding signs claiming that fluoride is unhealthy.
Opponents also sent thousands of e-mails to legislators and the media in advance of the hearing.
Johnson testified that fluoride builds up tooth enamel and prevents 60 percent of tooth decay in children and 35 percent in adults. American children lose about 51 million hours of school every year because of preventable tooth problems, he said.
The Arkansas State Dental Association and the American Dental Association support fluoridation, Johnson said.
Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Bigelow, testified in support of the bill, comparing opposition to fluoridation to attitudes he has encountered while doing missionary work in west Africa and vaccinating people for polio.

“To my amazement, village elders and some chiefs there would hide their children because they said we were poisoning and going to kill those children. … You can’t demonize something that actually has an opportunity to do some good,” Rapert said.
Garland County Tea Party member Bill Helix of Pearcy stands outside a committee room at the Capitol on Tuesday with a sign warning of fluoride dangers. (John Lyon photo)
Rep. Andy Mayberry, R-Hensley, said he had a problem with telling communities what to do. Johnson said he understood that concern, but he said in this case the public good outweighs local control.........................