Don't fluoridate N.J. water

Got an email today:

Legislation has been introduced in both the New Jersey General Assembly and the Senate that, if passed, will mandate statewide water fluoridation. Here is FAN's press release on the legislation, published on February 11:

[link to www.prnewswire.com]

An Op-ed on the legislation from Paul Connett, James Beck, and Spedding Micklem was also published in the New Jersey Star Ledger on Sunday, February 12:

[link to blog.nj.com]

A-1811 and S-959 were referred to the Health committees in both legislative bodies where public hearings were held and a majority of the testimony was in opposition to mandatory fluoridation. Opposition to the bill included, but was not limited to:

-NJ Utilities Association

-American Water Works Association, NJ Chapter

-NJ League of Municipalities

-NJ Business & Industry Association

-No Fluoride New Jersey

-NJ Sierra Club

-Individual water companies (Aqua, North Jersey Distric Water supply Commission)

Even with this opposition, the committees passed both bills with nearly unanimous support. This was not shocking since the prime sponsors of both bills are also the Chairmen of the two Health committees, and because similar bills were passed by both committees in 2005 and 2009. What is shocking, is that the sponsors, which include the Majority Leader of the Assembly, have been able to send the bills directly to the floors for votes without first going to the Budget and Appropriations committees. NJ's Legislative Rules require:



10:18.Second Reference to Appropriations or Budget Committee.

a. Any bill to appropriate $100,000 or more of State funds or which involves an actual or potential appropriation or expenditure of $100,000 or more of State or other public funds, shall, upon being reported by the committee and prior to second reading, be referred to the Appropriations Committee, an Appropriations Committee subcommittee, or the Budget Committee, for further fiscal study, evaluation and report.

If passed, mandatory fluoridation in NJ is estimated to cost municipalities and private water companies approximately $5 billion to implement, and an additional $1 billion annually to maintain. The cost will then be passed on to ratepayers who are forced to pay, whether they support or oppose fluoridation. In 2005 and 2009 the huge cost associated with these bills led to their defeat in the Appropriations committees, which is why the sponsors have ignored rules to circumvent them this time around. Now both bills will be voted on by the full Senate and Assembly on March 15th.

We need to send a clear message to NJ legislators telling them not to ignore Assembly rules, to send the bill to Appropriations, and oppose the bill if it ever reaches the floor!