BOISE, Idaho (AP) - The Idaho Senate has killed a non-binding resolution recognizing water fluoride as a key tool to improving public health after multiple lawmakers argued the bill overstated the benefits of the mineral.
The resolution managed to sail through the House earlier this session with minimal opposition, but Senate lawmakers refused to bite into the measure with a narrow 18-16 vote on Thursday.
Republican Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, of Cottonwood, says fluoride is too contentious to support.
Health officials have long noted that most communities have fluoride in their water supplies, and toothpaste has it too. Some kids are even given fluoride supplements.
However, fluorosis has generally been seen as the primary down side of fluoride.
