Alaska - One on one with Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Girdwood’s resident senator discusses a variety of issues

By Paddy Notar
Turnagain Times Correspondent

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Alaska‘s U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski at the Silvertip Grill in Girdwood on March 21. We talked about my old bacterial infection, my mother passing away, and then we got into the issues that affect the everyday person. I started by approaching her about fluoride being purchased from Chinese corporations and the lack of U.S. government oversight.

“Are you telling me that the EPA and the FDA don’t inspect fluoride from China?” Murkowski said, a bit stunned. “That’s not right. We can’t even bring in prescription drugs from Canada into the United States. Why aren’t we buying fluoride from U.S. companies?”

I explained that many U.S. companies, which used to provide fluoride went out of business long ago because municipalities want the lowest bid and no one can beat Chinese prices. Frankly, I was surprised that she didn’t have more information on the situation. Water is a natural resource, she chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee for the U.S. Senate, lives in Girdwood, and there’s been a lot of information regarding re-fluoridating the water there.

“My committee is meeting with the Director of the EPA, and I will be asking why fluoride from China is not being tested by the EPA or the FDA. That’s unacceptable. No chemical should be coming into our country that is going to be put into our water, without some U.S. agency testing it.”

I stated that China provided one-third of our children’s toys in the early 21st century that were laced with lead paints.

“I remember that recall, Paddy,” Sen. Murkowski said.

I then responded, “I don’t think China is our best friend other than wanting to export as much as possible to us. They don’t really have our best interests at heart and they do have their own terrorist groups. I don’t think in today’s post 9-11 world we can say we’re overreacting to anything, especially with our water.”

She responded with conviction, “I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but it’s a situation that needs to be addressed, and I will make sure my committee gets some answers.”.............