Welfare Drug Testing Dropped After Amendment Required Lawmakers Be Tested

[David1946]

I've written my reps demanding an amendment be added that all lawmakers are drug tested in Michigan. Will it happen...don't know. But whats good for the goose is good for the gander.

Welfare Drug Testing Bill Withdrawn After Amended To Include Testing Lawmakers

 

http://www.huffingto..._n_1237333.html

 

A Republican member of the Indiana General Assembly withdrew his bill to create a pilot program for drug testing welfare applicants Friday after one of his Democratic colleagues amended the measure to require drug testing for lawmakers.

 

"There was an amendment offered today that required drug testing for legislators as well and it passed, which led me to have to then withdraw the bill," said Rep. Jud McMillin (R-Brookville), sponsor of the original welfare drug testing bill.

 

The Supreme Court ruled drug testing for political candidates unconstitutional in 1997, striking down a Georgia law. McMillin said he withdrew his bill so he could reintroduce it on Monday with a lawmaker drug testing provision that would pass constitutional muster.

 

"I've only withdrawn it temporarily," he told HuffPost, stressing he carefully crafted his original bill so that it could survive a legal challenge. Last year a federal judge, citing the Constitution's ban on unreasonable search and seizure, struck down a Florida law that required blanket drug testing of everyone who applied for welfare.

 

McMillin's bill would overcome constitutional problems, he said, by setting up a tiered screening scheme in which people can opt-out of random testing. Those who decline random tests would only be screened if they arouse "reasonable suspicion," either by their demeanor, by being convicted of a crime, or by missing appointments required by the welfare office.

 

In the past year Republican lawmakers have pursued welfare drug testing in more than 30 states and in Congress, and some bills have even targeted people who claim unemployment insurance and food stamps, despite scanty evidence the poor and jobless are disproportionately on drugs. Democrats in several states have countered with bills to require drug testing elected officials. Indiana state Rep. Ryan Dvorak (D-South Bend) introduced just such an amendment on Friday.

 

"After it passed, Rep. McMillin got pretty upset and pulled his bill," Dvorak said. "If anything, I think it points out some of the hypocrisy. ... If we're going to impose standards on drug testing, then it should apply to everybody who receives government money."

 

Dvorak said McMillin was mistaken to think testing the legislature would be unconstitutional, since the stricken Georgia law targeted candidates and not people already holding office.

 

McMillan, for his part, said he's coming back with a new bill on Monday, lawmaker testing included. He said he has no problem submitting to a test himself.

 

"I would think legislators that are here who are responsible for the people who voted them in, they should be more than happy to consent," he said. "Give me the cup right now and I will be happy to take the test."

[cristinew]

breath test when they enter the capital would be good for the too

[Frank R]

breath test when they enter the capital would be good for the too

Better still, they should blow the analyzer before each and every vote.

 

Oh, they can be drunk as a skunk in a bag in the trunk.

 

Its just that the voting record would list "Yea", "Nay", and "Abstain", plus "Sober" and "Drunk".

[greenbuddha]

Drug testing, if done in order for a citizen to qualify for government aid or assistance should also be required of ALL government employees AND elected officials.

 

I think we would all be amazed at how many of our politicians and enforcement agency employees are using, or have used drugs, of both a 'legal' and an 'illegal' nature.

[David1946]

Better still, they should blow the analyzer before each and every vote.

 

Oh, they can be drunk as a skunk in a bag in the trunk.

 

Its just that the voting record would list "Yea", "Nay", and "Abstain", plus "Sober" and "Drunk". Love it! I believe alcohol and or drugs have a lot to do with the way some of them vote now.

[AmishRnot4ganja]

Testing anyone who receives government payments would require that all government contractors get tested as well as all politicians, social security recipients, income tax refund receivers,... The list seems never ending.

 

Republicans seem to be very vindictive individuals, and rather dull, stupid, and boring as well.

[Croppled1]

Florida's Republican governor has a creative way to demoralize and demonize public sector workers: mandatory drug testing for all state employees who answer to the governor and all prospective hires for executive branch agencies.

 

Scott recently transferred a controlling interest in his multi-million-dollar chain of walk-in clinics to a trust controlled by his wife.

 

It turns out that Solantic, which is now effectively the governor's wife's company, does a brisk business in drug testing:

 

One of the more popular services at Solantic, the urgent care chain co-founded by Florida Gov. Rick Scott, is drug testing, according to Solantic CEO Karen Bowling.

 

Given Solantic's role in that marketplace, critics are again asking whether Scott's policy initiatives - this time, requiring drug testing of state employees and welfare recipients - are designed to benefit Scott's bottom line. [Palm Beach Post]

 

Solantic charges $35 per test. As the Palm Beach Post points out, its main customers are people who want to get privately tested first to make sure they'll pass some other drug test. So, Solantic stands to make a lot of money off a dramatic uptick in testing, even if it doesn't get any state contracts.

 

Scott's executive order will require all executive branch employees to be tested at least quarterly. Scott also supports legislation currently percolating through the state house and state senate that would force anyone seeking temporary cash assistance (aka "welfare") to undergo regular drug testing at their own expense.

 

As you will recall, Rick Scott has accepted responsibility for the massive, and criminal, Medicare fraud perpetrated on his watch at another health care company.

 

http://bigthink.com/ideas/31788

 

 

[greenbuddha]

Florida's Republican governor has a creative way to demoralize and demonize public sector workers: mandatory drug testing for all state employees who answer to the governor and all prospective hires for executive branch agencies.

 

Scott recently transferred a controlling interest in his multi-million-dollar chain of walk-in clinics to a trust controlled by his wife.

 

It turns out that Solantic, which is now effectively the governor's wife's company, does a brisk business in drug testing:

 

One of the more popular services at Solantic, the urgent care chain co-founded by Florida Gov. Rick Scott, is drug testing, according to Solantic CEO Karen Bowling.

 

Given Solantic's role in that marketplace, critics are again asking whether Scott's policy initiatives - this time, requiring drug testing of state employees and welfare recipients - are designed to benefit Scott's bottom line. [Palm Beach Post]

 

Solantic charges $35 per test. As the Palm Beach Post points out, its main customers are people who want to get privately tested first to make sure they'll pass some other drug test. So, Solantic stands to make a lot of money off a dramatic uptick in testing, even if it doesn't get any state contracts.

 

Scott's executive order will require all executive branch employees to be tested at least quarterly. Scott also supports legislation currently percolating through the state house and state senate that would force anyone seeking temporary cash assistance (aka "welfare") to undergo regular drug testing at their own expense.

 

As you will recall, Rick Scott has accepted responsibility for the massive, and criminal, Medicare fraud perpetrated on his watch at another health care company.

 

http://bigthink.com/ideas/31788

 

 

 

 

 

Yep! Become a politician and make yourself rich.

[Frank R]

Florida's Republican governor has a creative way to demoralize and demonize public sector workers: mandatory drug testing for all state employees who answer to the governor and all prospective hires for executive branch agencies.

 

Scott recently transferred a controlling interest in his multi-million-dollar chain of walk-in clinics to a trust controlled by his wife.

 

It turns out that Solantic, which is now effectively the governor's wife's company, does a brisk business in drug testing:

 

One of the more popular services at Solantic, the urgent care chain co-founded by Florida Gov. Rick Scott, is drug testing, according to Solantic CEO Karen Bowling.

 

Given Solantic's role in that marketplace, critics are again asking whether Scott's policy initiatives - this time, requiring drug testing of state employees and welfare recipients - are designed to benefit Scott's bottom line. [Palm Beach Post]

http://bigthink.com/ideas/31788

 

Ah yes, just follow the money to understand why any, and all, every single gosh-darned one of 'em, Republicans make any and all public policies.

 

Cash money rules the world of the Republican.

 

I would venture to guess that if you followed the Santorum money it would show he's heavily invested in private prisons for both juveniles and adults.