Want to make Kentucky healthy again? Try not poisoning our drinking water | Opinion
State Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer cares about Kentucky’s health.
Not only is the Alexandria Republican the major force behind the creation of freestanding birthing centers, an excellent, progressive idea, she’s also creating a Kentucky fried version of Make America Healthy Again, as a nod to our new federal health guru Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Not really fried, of course.
This legislative task force starts a new campaign to get people to eat better, exercise more and learn about what makes us unhealthy, including this very laudable goal: Minimizing “population exposure to environmental toxins and pollutants.”
But the week before the task force was announced, the Senate voted for the most most serious environmental rollback in years, one that WOULD ALLOW MORE ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS AND POLLUTANTS IN OUR DRINKING WATER.
That’s right, Senate Bill 89 is streaking through the legislative process, sure to be voted on by the House at any moment.
It’s yet another life support measure for our dying coal industry — one that redefines protected waterways, thereby allowing coal mines to fill streams with their toxic waste. That pollution, including heavy metals, from Eastern Kentucky then floats into our water supply via the Kentucky River, which is the main water supply for three quarters of a million people in the state.
Frommeyer said she voted for Senate Bill 89 because her water district said they approved of the bill.
“I do believe there are strong commitments and processes in place around water purification process,” she said. “We’ll continue to be very astute around common sense and loving Mother Earth. It’s something we don’t take lightly.”
On Tuesday, Kentucky Energy and Environment Secretary Rebecca Goodman sent a letter Tuesday to state Rep. Jim Gooch, chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, an ardent supporter of the coal industry.
She pointed out that polluting people wells and water systems will create the need for more testing and treatment of drinking water, which will then make water more expensive for consumers. Not to mention the harm to our natural environment.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Scott Madon, R-Pineville seems as unimpressed by this line of argument as Jim Gooch will be.
As he said about his bill: “As I always say when I’m talking about coal, God put coal under our feet so we can use it. It’s one of our greatest natural resources,” Madon said. “And it’s our job to push back on unelected bureaucrats that overstep and safeguard constituents from government overreach.”
Goodman tried to go for the pragmatic approach: “Water is a valuable resource to Kentuckians. Degrading the commonwealth’s waters to the point that water quality is decreased, while costs increase, will negatively affect economic development opportunities for Kentucky,” the letter said.
SB 89 is almost certain to pass, almost certain to be vetoed by Gov. Andy Beshear, which is almost certain to be overruled.
Not that cognitive dissonance and hypocrisy are strangers to Frankfort, of course. It’s just that it would be great if anything made sense these days.
Kentucky is starting to rely more on ecotourism, especially in Eastern Kentucky. Bright orange streams caused by mine runoff and less wildlife is not good for that bottom line. Senate Bill 89 is terrible, short-sighted legislation to appease one industry that is falling behind other energy sources, like natural gas and solar.
Ecotourism also dovetails with healthier living, more time spent moving in our beautiful state.
Funke Frommeyer says her task force is expected to be recognized by RFK Jr. in the coming days, and she will be working with federal authorities on issues like healthier food sources and better healthcare. (She is also worried about fluoride in water and opposes vaccine mandates, so we don’t agree on everything.)
But in the end, she’s right about the big stuff: Kentucky needs to get healthier. We should go for a run, eat a salad, then call our state representatives and tell them to vote no on Senate Bill 89.
