Local Government Stupidity

From Firehouse.com: The Eau Claire County Board deadlocked Tuesday night on a resolution that would have opposed pending legislation exempting Amish residents from statewide requirements mandating their homes have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
The county Planning and Development Committee recommended the board oppose the measure, having voted 4-1 in favor of opposition. However, that motion failed when supervisors were split on the idea, voting 12-12 on the matter. Five supervisors did not attend Tuesday's meeting.
The county proposal was not binding but was meant to advise state legislators.
Supervisor Mark Olson, a retired Eau Claire firefighter, said the proposed legislation, which would exempt certain one- and two-family homes from requirements they house smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and standard plumbing, is an issue of safety for people living in homes and for firefighters responding to fires. Seventy-three percent of carbon monoxide poisoning cases occur in one- and two-family homes, he said.
However, Supervisor Bruce Stabenow of Augusta, whose District 5 includes Amish families, said the proposal is about freedom of religion.
The Amish are "law-abiding citizens" who feel having smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes violates their religion, Stabenow said. For them, removing detectors after a building inspector has checked their homes isn't an option because such action would represent "cheating" or "lying," Stabenow said, and is against Amish beliefs.
"They're not trying to beat the system. They just want to live quiet, respectful lives according to their religion," he said.
State Rep. Kathy Bernier, R-Lake Hallie, authored Assembly Bill 499, which would exempt certain homes from having smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and plumbing standards. Bernier said she is concerned the state's uniform dwelling code infringes on the religious freedom of Amish residents.
Bernier's bill does not specifically mention Amish residents but includes an exemption for houses without electrical wiring. Amish balk at electricity and other conveniences based on religious reasons. The bill also would exempt one- and two-family dwellings without indoor toilets from certain plumbing requirements.  http://www.firehouse.com/news/11323922/eau-clair-board-at-odds-over-exempting-amish-with-smoke-alarms
When I lived in Wisconsin, I lived in an area of Amish communities and made friends with some of them.
To be honest, I never heard of an Amish house burning down.  Other than a wood stove and heater, there really is nothing that would start a fire in the house, since they don't have electricity.
This is just another example of a government agency saying to a group of people "We're from the government and we are here to help because we know more than you."