After being amended to make it marginally “less bad,” HB 3099 is on the move again, and we need to move quickly to stop it.  HB 3099 still requires every city in Oregon with over 10,000 residents to fluoridate their water, but it now allows an option for a one time “opt-out” election of the residents of each city (paid for by the city).  This amendment introduces numerous complications, such as how Portland, who supplies water to 27 water districts, will provide fluoride-free water to cities who chose to opt out and fluoridated water to others who don’t.

There are very interesting politics in play here.  On Thursday, the General Government subcommittee of Natural Resources passed the bill out of committee, only after Senator Schrader pulled Senator Johnson off of the committee to vote in her place.  The bill would likely have not passed the committee without this unusual move.  Today, it passed Ways and Means and is headed to the House floor.

The vote in the house will likely be decided by one vote, and Speaker Merkley is the key.  Please call the Speaker at (503) 986-1200 or email him at rep.jeffmerkley@state.or.us.  Ask him to oppose water fluoridation in any form.

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