Posted on 06/01/2011 5:59:40 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
Saying it is "unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction," Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed legislation requiring adults applying for welfare assistance to undergo drug screening.
"It's the right thing for taxpayers," Scott said after signing the measure. "It's the right thing for citizens of this state that need public assistance. We don't want to waste tax dollars. And also, we want to give people an incentive to not use drugs."
Under the law, which takes effect on July 1, the Florida Department of Children and Family Services will be required to conduct the drug tests on adults applying to the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The aid recipients would be responsible for the cost of the screening, which they would recoup in their assistance if they qualify. Those who fail the required drug testing may designate another individual to receive the benefits on behalf of their children.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
If they know when they will be tested, they will get clean for the test. Not sure this is anything but an attempt to make Scott look good. It has already been found unconstitutional in Michaigan and I am pretty sure Scott knows that.
This is silly, unless the state will also require the person receiving the benefits to care for the children (without the drug addicted parents around).
HA!! That’s why I said the 3rd of the month. You know as soon as the check comes they are getting high. LOL!
You are RIGHT! What a pant-load!
The bill does absolutely NOTHING since the doper is refused the funds and food, a friend is, and the doper gets it back from the friend...less a little cut for the friend.
The people should be enraged over this stupid bill. However, we’ve dumbed down the normal citizen to blindly believe only the headline and first sentence of any article they see or hear.
Racism, pure and simple! < /sarc >
Will the "designated individual" have to pass the drug test?
Thinking ahead, a new cottage industry is born; a non-druggie receiving the kids’ benefits on behalf of the addicts, for a cut, of course!
“Saying it is “unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction,” Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed legislation requiring adults applying for welfare assistance to undergo drug screening.”
Let’s see how far this gets before it’s struck down by the courts.
The courts (up to and including the U.S. Supreme Court) have endorsed drug testing in the past in employer/worker situations, as a matter of “public safety”.
But it’s going to be hard to apply the “public safety” precedent to a situation where someone is being “given benefits” in return for, well, nothing else.
I’m hoping the law can be made to “stick”, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s defeated through the courts.
Just sayin’....
A lot of white people get welfare but I guess they are more deserving.
Scott knows it will be struck down. The point of it is to make him look tough. And maybe something to do with his financial interests in clinics that do the testing.
They will get tested too. But look for the NAALCP, AC(riminal)LU and others to scream racism.
“Nobody HAS to pee in a cup for employment, but Americans do seem all to willing to do so.”
You’ll find yourself quite wrong on that one, my FRiend, if you try to get hired on an airline or railroad, or keep being employed by same.
Drug testing in the railroad operating crafts has been going on for years. I believe the “drug test issue” on the railroads was the first such case to reach the U.S. Supreme Court — which ruled AGAINST the unions and in full favor of the companies’ right to test.
Drug testing is also FEDERALLY MANDATED in some situations, such as “post-accident” tests to determine if the train crew was impaired. There is no way around it.
Just tellin’ it like it is...
(Having worked on the rails for 32 years now)
What I mean is you can always look for another job.
ACORN/democrats/ACLU will claim this singles out addicts and that addictions are covered under ADA.
bet on it.
probably an amendment from demonrats to get republicans to pass the bill .
you’re right, it’s dumb.
I wrote and article on helium about this very topic.
http://www.helium.com/items/2170406-welfare-recipents-drug-testing
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