Nebraska Fluoridation

On April 17, 2008, the Nebraska legislature voted to override Governor Heineman's veto of
LB245, which mandates that all Nebraska cities with 1,000 or more residents must add fluoride
to their water supply by June 1, 2010. Governor Heineman vetoed the bill calling it an unfunded
mandate.

Fortunately, there is a provision in this new law that gives Nebraska communities the right to
opt out of this mandate if they choose. They can do so by placing the issue up for public vote
before June 1, 2010. The issue can be placed on the ballot by either a vote by the city council
or through public petition.

So…if you oppose fluoridation and believe that your state legislators have no right to mandate
the addition of this toxic chemical to your community's water supply, it's not too late to do
something about it.

Take action and get involved! Ask your city council to place the issue on the ballot in 2009
or start a petition to let the public vote on the issue and keep the water safe in your
community now!

Already have a petition started? That's great--please contact us with the details so we can
help promote your efforts!

To view a copy of Nebraska LB245 visit
http://uniweb.legislature.ne.gov/FloorDocs/Current/PDF/Slip/LB245.pdf

Does Your Water Contain
Fluoride?
According to a report issued by the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
in 2006, approximately 69% of
residents in Nebraska served by
community water systems receive
water that has been fluoridated.
The CDC, unfortunately, is very
pro-fluoride, and with Act 761 now
in place, they are hoping to
increase that percentage to 100%.
Their state database shows the
current status of fluoridation of
water systems in each county in
Nebraska as of 2008. To find out if
fluoride is currently added to the
drinking water in your community,
click here.

On November 4, voters in 49 communities in Nebraska rejected the state legislature's efforts to
impose mandatory fluoridation. A total of 61 Nebraska communities exercised their right to place
the issue on the ballot for a vote-12 towns voted to add fluoride to their water supply.

Communities rejecting fluoridation include: Ainsworth, Aurora, Battle Creek, Bayard, Beatrice.
Bridgeport, Broken Bow, Cambridge. Central City, Chadron, Cozad, Crawford, David City, Eagle,
Friend, Geneva, Gothenburg, Grand Island, Grant, Hastings, Hebron, Imperial, Kimball, Lexington,
Madison, Milford, Mitchell, North Platte, Ord, Pawnee City, Pierce, Plainview, Ravenna, Schuyler,
Scottsbluff, Shelton, Sidney, St. Paul, Stanton, Stromsburg, Sutherland, Sutton, Tekamah,
Valentine, Weeping Water, Wilber, Wood River, Wymore and York.

Communities approving fluoridation include: Alma, Ashland, Crete, Dakota City, Franklin, Gretna,
North Bend, Seward, Wahoo, Wisner, Wakefield and Yutan.

Congratulations to Nebraskans for Safe Water for their successful efforts!