Lawmakers make last-minute push against fluoride

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

By Alana Cook, Citizen.Editor.Eureka@gmail.com

State Rep. Bob Ballinger and State Sen. Bryan King are not giving up their fight against fluoride, which is scheduled to be added to Eureka Springs' water supply beginning Wednesday, July 15.

King told the Lovely County Citizen that he met with Arkansas Department of Health officials last week regarding Delta Dental's business contracts and is writing ADH a letter asking the department to look more closely at Delta Dental's involvement in the push for fluoridation.

"We know that each legislative session, the fluoride mandate could be repealed. Currently, Delta Dental will pay for the equipment if water districts sign a contract that requires [districts] pay the money back if the districts quit fluoridating," he said. "I don't like that water districts are forced into this kind of deal when each legislative session, the mandate could be lifted. You have a law that forces people to pay for equipment on a 10-year deal and if we change the law, they still have to pay. It's like having a gun to your head."

King said he would like to know what the fair market price for fluoridation equipment is in comparison to what Delta Dental is requiring CBWD to pay back. He said he is also working with Madison County on a similar issue.

Despite the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' recent report recommending that fluoride amounts be lowered in the public's drinking water supply for the first time in a half-century, Arkansas cities and counties with more than 5,000 people are moving forward with plans to fluoridate the water supply, because of a 2011 state law that mandates them to do so.