http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/06/01/florida.welfare.drug.testing/index.html?eref=rss_politics&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_allpolitics+(RSS%3A+Politics)

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Florida governor signs welfare drug-screen measure
By the CNN Wire Staff
June 1, 2011 5:58 a.m. EDT

(CNN) -- 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.

Shortly after the bill was signed, five Democrats from the state's congressional delegation issued a joint statement attacking the legislation, one calling it "downright unconstitutional."

"Governor Scott's new drug testing law is not only an affront to families in need and detrimental to our nation's ongoing economic recovery, it is downright unconstitutional," said Rep. Alcee Hastings. "If Governor Scott wants to drug test recipients of TANF benefits, where does he draw the line? Are families receiving Medicaid, state emergency relief, or educational grants and loans next?"

Rep. Corrine Brown said the tests "represent an extreme and illegal invasion of personal privacy."

"Indeed, investigating people when there is probable cause to suspect they are abusing drugs is one thing," Brown said in the joint statement. "But these tests amount to strip searching our state's most vulnerable residents merely because they rely on the government for financial support during these difficult economic times."

Joining in the statement denouncing the measure were Democratic Reps. Kathy Castor, Ted Deutch and Frederica Wilson.

Controversy over the measure was heightened by Scott's past association with a company he co-founded that operates walk-in urgent care clinics in Florida and counts drug screening among the services it provides.

In April, Scott, who had transferred his ownership interest in Solantic Corp. to a trust in his wife's name, said the company would not contract for state business, according to local media reports. He subsequently sold his majority stake in the company, local media reported.

On May 18, the Florida Ethics Commission ruled that two conflict-of-interest complaints against Scott were legally insufficient to warrant investigation, and adopted an opinion that no "prohibited conflict of interest" existed.

Also on Tuesday, Scott also signed a measure outlawing hallucinogenic designer drugs known as "bath salts."

"The chemical substances found in 'bath salts' constitute a significant threat to health and public safety," the governor's office said in a statement. "Poison control centers in Florida have reported 61 calls of 'bath salts' abuse, making Florida the state with the second-highest volume of calls."

The drugs "are readily available at convenience stores, discount tobacco outlets, gas stations, pawnshops, tattoo parlors, and truck stops, among other locations," the governor's office said.

I wish South Florida could secede from the rest of the state, maybe join the Conch Republic of Key West.

LOL. Florida ain't never been the same since November 2000.

I can't understand how anyone could oppose this. Those needing help need to know the requirements. Drug testing/passing should be among requirements.

Nystyle709 wrote:

RedBedroom wrote:

I can't understand how anyone could oppose this. Those needing help need to know the requirements. Drug testing/passing should be among requirements.

Read what that article says. The governor is assuming that everybody who applies for welfare is on drugs. And also, it opens the floodgates for them to drug test you for other bullshit just because they give or loan you money. And it's just a ploy to cut down on welfare and eliminate it altogether. If a person is applying for welfare, then where the hell is he/she gonna find money to pay for a drug test? I don't care if they do reimburse you. They have to come up with the money first.

It's typical bullshit where the people who need help the most are either denied or made to jump through higher & higher hoops.

Nystyle709 wrote:

RedBedroom wrote:

I can't understand how anyone could oppose this. Those needing help need to know the requirements. Drug testing/passing should be among requirements.

Read what that article says. The governor is assuming that everybody who applies for welfare is on drugs. And also, it opens the floodgates for them to drug test you for other bullshit just because they give or loan you money. And it's just a ploy to cut down on welfare and eliminate it altogether. If a person is applying for welfare, then where the hell is he/she gonna find money to pay for a drug test? I don't care if they do reimburse you. They have to come up with the money first.

I understand that the average person in need of public assistance is not going to have the upfront money to pay for a drug test. But, here is my thought on that. #1, it's June. I need money to feed my kid. Without said money, he won't eat enough in July, August....So, I am going to find that money I need to get me that assistance down the road. #2, once this is in play, drug testing clinics will bill out, so that the person will be able to pay later. **I don't know #2 to be a sure thing, but I am assuming as much. If I currently needed a self-paid drug test, the clinic here would do it, then bill it out. And even if I am way off base on #2, I put full stock in my first point.

Maybe I am just jaded because I have seen countless people on assistance that have enough money for their bad habits, be it drugs, cigs, alcohol, but yet claim to need government money to feed the family and/or get the family needed health care.

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And the vast majority do need it

The thing is, in the state I live in, they don't. Maybe half are in dire straits...the others do have alternatives, but why use them when it is so easy to get govt. money?

Food banks here are plentiful, and for free health care is available as well. And that is not having to do with any government assistance. Yet, countless who are recreational or habitual drug users are "on the system" getting free groceries and/or health care.

Granted, I can't speak for what it is like in other areas. I think this issue is certainly geographically specific, as in my area, public assistance needs reformation.

Well there is a legal distinction between THC and alcohol.

I am not saying that just drug testing alone is the perfect solution. But it is a start. I think restrictions should go further to stipulate that no recipients continue to receive aid should they have an alcohol related arrest while on assistance.

That said, I certainly would not take a hit off a joint if keeping my assistance depended on passing a drug test. If I had such poor judgement, maybe I need to make better judgements all around...including finding ways to feed my family sans govt. help.

I think I'd like to see some of the welfare come in the form of food cards - the ones you can buy at some grocery stories and then load with money. Friend of mine worked at a Casino doing security and he said the busiest day was the day the welfare cheques came in. Some would come and gamble it all away that day and he knew they had kids at home who needed the money. He said it was really hard to see.

I worked in a school where the goal for many of the children was to get pregnant so they could start collecting welfare. Their parents taught them that school was a waste of time - that it was better to have lots of kids so you could get more money. These kids came from alcoholic families with parents who didn't work - not because they couldn't, but because they got welfare. It was really hard to see, because you knew the path most of these kids were on. Some of them would break free and go on to university, which was awesome, but we also knew that once they left grade 8, most would drop out by the time they were in grade 11.

TSJFan4Ever wrote:

I think I'd like to see some of the welfare come in the form of food cards - the ones you can buy at some grocery stories and then load with money. Friend of mine worked at a Casino doing security and he said the busiest day was the day the welfare cheques came in. Some would come and gamble it all away that day and he knew they had kids at home who needed the money. He said it was really hard to see.

I worked in a school where the goal for many of the children was to get pregnant so they could start collecting welfare. Their parents taught them that school was a waste of time - that it was better to have lots of kids so you could get more money. These kids came from alcoholic families with parents who didn't work - not because they couldn't, but because they got welfare. It was really hard to see, because you knew the path most of these kids were on. Some of them would break free and go on to university, which was awesome, but we also knew that once they left grade 8, most would drop out by the time they were in grade 11.

Here, they do get food cards. However, it is easy to get around that because soda and junk food are still allowed purchases, so it is an easy trade for alcohol or cash when the card is lent out.

Yeah - people will still find ways to get around it, no matter what you do. I know with the ones we have here, you load the money ahead of tie and then you can only buy food but it doesn't stop you from buying unhealthy food. The kids in the school I was in were so used to getting free stuff that they'd come to expect it. We'd see them throw away perfectly good lunches because they'd rather have junk food. There was always money for junkfood but rarely for something healthy. These kids would be on the school food program but would come with bags of chips and pop and slurpees every single day.

Shale wrote:

This was my point. Ganja should be legal, just like alcohol. And, we learned the hard way not to make alcohol illegal (The Great Experiment in the US).

Laws are often wrong. Pls don't base any argument on US laws or I will remind you that it was illegal in many states to suck cock as late as 2003, or to have interracial sex until 1967. Just because it is illegal in the US does not make it right.

Shale wrote:

TSJFan4Ever wrote:

I think I'd like to see some of the welfare come in the form of food cards - the ones you can buy at some grocery stories and then load with money. ...

Back in the '70s in much of the south they had "commodity food" the famous bricks of cheese, powdered milk, beans, rice, oatmeal. Things that ppl could live on (healthier than what they buy normally) It was not popular among the obese, clogged artery populace but you would not starve.

I think they should start that again. It was a government supplement to the producers of food and a way to assure starvation was stopped in the US.

I think they did that in the 80's too & included flour & peanut butter as well.