Scott Signs Florida Bill Forcing Welfare Drug Tests

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) Florida Governor Rick Scott, saying residents shouldn’t subsidize substance abusers, signed a bill that will require welfare recipients to submit to drug tests.

Under the law, applicants for the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program who test positive for illegal substances won’t be eligible to receive benefits for one year or until they successfully complete a substance-abuse treatment program. More than 113,000 Floridians received TANF benefits in the last fiscal year.

“While there certainly are legitimate needs for public assistance, it is unfair for Florida’s taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction,” Scott, a 58-year-old Republican, said in remarks prepared for a ceremony in Panama City on the Panhandle.

The House passed the bill in April by a 78-to-38 margin, and the Senate approved it this month in a 26-to-11 vote. Republicans have a veto-proof majority in both chambers. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-31/florida-s-scott-signs-bill-forcing-welfare-drug-tests.html

[ananda]

1. Teahate sure is virulent.

nt

[Beaverhausen]

2. who's paying for the drug tests?

[ejpoeta]

3. and whose benefiting from the drug tests?

[RockaFowler]

5. Welfare Recipients have to pay for it

Oh yeah and they have to go to Solantic - old tricky pRick's old company - or he still owns it somehow

[KansDem]

4. Who pays for this?

Under the law, applicants for the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program who test positive for illegal substances won’t be eligible to receive benefits for one year or until they successfully complete a substance-abuse treatment program.

Who pays for the drug tests? Who pays for the "substance-abuse treatment program?"

Sounds like another bonanza for the "attack of the middlemen."

[Canuckistanian]

6. Along with free, public drug rehab, right?

What fantasy world do these "lawmakers" live in?

[NightWatcher]

7. can they get these drug tests at the medical clinics that you (er I mean, your wife) owns?

[The Backlash Cometh]

I predict that the rate of suicide is about to rise because of this.

[Blue Owl]

8. Just think of the problems this will solve

:sarcasm:

[Buns_of_Fire]

9. Naturally, the Florida legislature and Governor, also being voter-subsidized, will also be tested...

:rofl: God, I crack myself up sometimes.

[BlueJac]

10. I want drug test for all public officials...........

and lie detector tests as well!!!

[spanone]

11. this will go to court

[gratuitous]

12. Will Rush Limbaugh be tested?

Or aren't public corporation assistance recipients entitled to the same treatment? While drug-addicted TANF recipients are likely to squander their meager benefits in food and shelter, drug-addicted multi-millionaire hate-mongering radio show hosts are likely to reinvest their handsome emoluments in local domestic help and free-lance pharmaceutical entrepreneurs.

[w8liftinglady]

13. of course... so the addict's kids can starve, too?

tuck them neatly away.


You've described a significant portion of my patient population...drug addicts and alcoholics who are unable to find work,do NOT qualify for any public assistance to get clean, and who have children.

"Pro-life" my ass.

[Viking12]

14. MI tried this 10 or so years ago; twas struck down as an unConstitutional violation of the 4th Amend

[ShadowLiberal]

15. Conservatives scream about big government, but consistent implement it when in office

If this isn't big brother introducing into your privacy then I don't know what is.