Forced Fluoride

I've discovered some rather disconcerting information and thought I'd pass it along for those who are also disturbed by such things. While recently researching the municipal fluoride policy of cities around Oregon I came across some garbage being tossed about our Legislature. From what I can tell it was last attempted in 2007 and failed. And for some industrious reasoning it keeps popping up again,.. and has since the 1950s.

For those who don't know, fluoride was once considered one of the most prevalent, and dangerous, pollutants of the industrial age. The largest emitters of fluoride were industries such as aluminum manufacturing (ALCOA), other metals and smelting operations, fertilizer production, and the nuclear power and weapons industry.

When all the trouble fluoride was causing for people, livestock, and plant life threatened to curtail economic "progress" and slow the rolling wheels of the new "military industrial complex", the industries organized an all-out campaign to turn a pollutant into our friend. It was a fantastic success, and now an unrefined industrial waste is sold as a commodity instead of controlled as a pollutant. In the 1950s fluoride went from rat poison to a necessary part of human ingestion. What a deal for the corporate powers. Instead of paying to pollute, they could now actually sell the stuff!

Then there's always the fun surrounding the use of fluoride during the Second World War in prison camps around the world to keep prisoners "submissive and obedient"... among other things.

Anyway, below are the summaries of two House Bills taken straight from the Oregon Legislature's web page. I've highlighted in blue those sections I find disturbing for various, usually obvious, reasons. There are parts that will be added {+} or omitted {-} throughout both bills, and if I've highlighted and area to be omitted I've noted that.

The more you read, the better it gets. My favorite part is... "for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist."
Happy reading!

House Bill 3156

75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 Regular Session
NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within { + braces and plus signs + } .
LC 1041
House Bill 3156
Sponsored by Representatives GREENLICK, SCHAUFLER, Senator MORRISETTE; Representatives BRUUN, GALIZIO, JENSON, KOTEK, READ, RILEY, ROBLAN, SHIELDS, TOMEI, Senator HASS
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's brief statement of the essential features of the measure as introduced.
Clarifies responsibility of Department of Human Services relating to drinking water. Requires that water suppliers serving more than 10,000 persons add fluoride to water. Delays implementation until water suppliers have sufficient capital to purchase fluoridation equipment. Preempts local government regulations that prohibit or restrict use of fluoride.

A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to safe drinking water; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 448.131 and 448.175.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 448.131 is amended to read: 448.131. (1) The Department of Human Services shall adopt water quality standards that are necessary { - to protect the public health through insuring safe drinking water within a water system - } <>to be omitted{ + to implement the department's responsibilities relating to drinking water and to ensure public health + }.
(2) In order to { - insure - } { + ensure + } safe drinking water, the department shall prescribe:
(a) Construction standards governing the performance of a water system insofar as { - they - } { + the standards + } relate to the safety of drinking water.
(b) Standards for the operation of water systems { - in so far as they - } { + insofar as the standards + } relate to the delivery of safe drinking water.
(c) Other standards and requirements considered necessary by the department to { - insure safe drinking water - } { + ensure that drinking water is safe, healthy and beneficial for human consumption + }.
(3) The department shall require that construction and installation plans be submitted and approved before construction begins on new systems or substantial improvements are made to old systems. The department may adopt rules exempting certain water systems from the plan review process.
(4) The department may impose and collect a fee from a water supplier for reviewing construction and installation plans.
(5) Nothing in this section authorizes the department to require alterations of existing facilities unless alterations are necessary to { - insure - } { + ensure + } safe drinking water.
SECTION 2. ORS 448.175 is amended to read: 448.175. Subject to ORS chapter 183, the Department of Human Services:
(1) Shall require that the water suppliers give public notice of violations in the water system.
(2) May refuse to allow expansion of or additional connections to a water system until the water system meets water quality standards and requirements.
(3) May enter an order requiring a water supplier to acquire or construct a water system that provides water meeting department standards. When the order requires a city to acquire a water system, the system must have the majority of its facilities within the city's adopted urban growth boundary. When the order is entered upon a city, the procedure described in ORS 454.235 to 454.255 shall be followed.
(4) May enter an order requiring a water supplier that fails to comply with the schedule prescribed under ORS 448.140 to cease operation of the water system.
{ + (5) Shall require that water suppliers serving more than 10,000 persons add fluoride, in the amount and manner prescribed by the department, to drinking water.
(6) Notwithstanding subsection (5) of this section, may temporarily exempt a water supplier serving more than 10,000 persons from adding fluoride to drinking water until the department determines that the water supplier has funds, sufficient to purchase the fluoridation equipment, from a source other than fees, taxes or charges by the water supplier to the supplier's ratepayers, shareholders, local taxpayers or bondholders. + }
SECTION 3. { + A city, county or other local government may not enact or enforce any ordinance, resolution or other provision that prohibits or restricts the use of fluoride in drinking water except as permitted in rules adopted by the Department of Human Services. + }
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House Bill 3228

75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 Regular Session
NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within { + braces and plus signs + } .
LC 2689
A-Engrossed
House Bill 3228
Ordered by the House May 5
Including House Amendments dated May 5
Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
{ - Directs Department of Human Services to implement program for training and certification of certain teachers, counselors and health assistants to apply fluoride varnishes to children's teeth. Appropriates moneys from General Fund for employees to train teachers, counselors and health assistants in fluoride varnish application. - } <
to be omitted

{ - Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2009. - } <>to be omitted
{ + Directs Department of Human Services to implement program to distribute funds to school districts to provide preventive oral health care to students. Establishes Oregon Oral Health Care Fund. Continuously appropriates moneys in fund to department for purpose of implementing program. Declares emergency, effective on passage. + }
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to dental hygiene; appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + (1) Subject to the availability of funds, the Department of Human Services shall adopt rules to implement a program to distribute funds to school districts to provide preventive oral health care to students. Under the program, the department may provide funds for:
(a) Training for school administrators on techniques of fluoride varnish application;
(b) Reimbursement of the cost of employing or contracting with a limited access permit dental hygienist or other qualified health professional to provide preventive oral health care to students; and
(c) The cost of medications used in providing preventive oral health care to students.
(2) The department may accept moneys from any public or private source for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section. The department shall deposit moneys accepted under this subsection in the Oregon Oral Health Care Fund established under section 2 of this 2009 Act. + }
SECTION 2. { + The Oregon Oral Health Care Fund is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. The Oregon Oral Health Care Fund consists of moneys deposited in the fund under section 1 of this 2009 Act. Interest earned by the fund shall be credited to the fund. Moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the Department of Human Services for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of section 1 of this 2009 Act. + }
SECTION 3. { + This 2009 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2009 Act takes effect on its passage. + }
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