Judge Blocks Florida Law Requiring Welfare Applicants to Pass Drug Test

[bobbyw24]

Florida Bill Forcing Welfare Drug Tests

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.

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

 

[specsaregood]

good one.
even better would be if they could test for alcohol and tobacco and deny welfare if they are detected.

 

[Cowlesy]

Bravo

 

[Krugerrand]

I'm not liking it. Why not test for levels of fat for High Fructose Corn Syrup intake?

This is government control of behavior. If you don't like subsidizing bad behavior, cut the subsidy - don't try and use it to control people.

 

[RonPaulCult]

It's wrong for the government to know if you are doing drugs or not. I don't agree with this. It's also wrong to take money from people and give it to other people. But two wrongs don't make a right.

Bad bill.

I just moved to Florida - is this what I can look forward to? (From what I've read...yes it is)

 

[specsaregood]

I'm not liking it. Why not test for levels of fat for High Fructose Corn Syrup intake?

Sure, why not.

This is government control of behavior. If you don't like subsidizing bad behavior, cut the subsidy - don't try and use it to control people.

It isn't control, because people have a choice of whether or not to receive the benefits. If you are gonna get taken care of by mommy govt, then you have to live by her rules.

 

[bobbyw24]

It isn't control, because people have a choice of whether or not to receive the benefits. If you are gonna get taken care of by mommy govt, then you have to live by her rules.

Just like people in HUD subsidized rental units cannot have friends live with them for free.

 

[steph3n]

If you are living on the teet of government, except this, I applaud it. I want as little of my money wasted as possible. While at it test for other things too.

maybe enough people will feel offended by it they will get jobs and stop living off big mama govt.

 

[Legend1104]

These people are getting tax payer money that they don't need because they seem to be able to afford drugs. This law is not to control behavior but rather to save money.

 

[bobbyw24]

maybe enough people will feel offended by it they will get jobs and stop living off big mama govt.

But the Gov't loves dependent people since they always vote for Bigger Government

 

[civusamericanus]

Approximately 50 Million American's are on welfare, if you equate that to 3+ people per welfare family recipient, that's roughly half of America on Welfare. We're at the tipping point for a Welfare state, if it continues more than 1/2 of America will be on welfare within a year. Foreclosures were 2.2 Million in 2010, they're expected to rise to 4 Million for 2011.

 

[RonPaulFanInGA]

I'm not liking it. Why not test for levels of fat for High Fructose Corn Syrup intake?

This is government control of behavior. If you don't like subsidizing bad behavior, cut the subsidy - don't try and use it to control people.

High-fructose corn syrup, tobacco, alcohol, etc. are not illegal.

You depend on the government, you play by their rules. Don't like it: get off welfare.

 

[bobbyw24]

Approximately 50 Million American's are on welfare, if you equate that to 3+ people per welfare family recipient, that's roughly half of America on Welfare. We're at the tipping point for a Welfare state, if it continues more than 1/2 of America will be on welfare within a year. Foreclosures were 2.2 Million in 2010, they're expected to rise to 4 Million for 2011.

And 50% of Americans pay NO Income Tax so they don't care about the other half that has its paychecks reduced each pay period.

 

[specsaregood]

High-fructose corn syrup, tobacco, alcohol, etc. are not illegal.
You depend on the government, you play by their rules. Don't like it: get off welfare.

No, but they aren't necessary to live either, esp. alcohol. I think they should test for alcohol and tobacco and eliminate users of those drugs from the welfare list as well. If you can afford smoke and drink then you don't need handouts either.

 

[cubical]

No, but they aren't necessary to live either, esp. alcohol. I think they should test for alcohol and tobacco and eliminate users of those drugs from the welfare list as well. If you can afford smoke and drink then you don't need handouts either.

This is a slippery slope. The government would have to waste trillions monitoring everyone who received handouts making sure they only ate, slept and went to work.

 

[specsaregood]

This is a slippery slope. The government would have to waste trillions monitoring everyone who received handouts making sure they only ate, slept and went to work.

Monthly urine tests should be near enough to cover most people. I think the $$ saved would outweigh the costs.

 

[squarepusher]

ALthough most of you consider yourself republicans, you must know that many Americans are unhappy in this country, and on the left the best way to hurt the government is to take money from transfer payments. Its a good way to take money from going to wars, prevent money going to wasteful spending, etc...

In fact many libertarians also speak of taking money from the government to help speed up the crash.

 

[specsaregood]

ALthough most of you consider yourself republicans, you must know that many Americans are unhappy in this country, and on the left the best way to hurt the government is to take money from transfer payments. Its a good way to take money from going to wars, prevent money going to wasteful spending, etc...

In fact many libertarians also speak of taking money from the government to help speed up the crash.

I don't quite get what you are trying to say.

 

[RonPaulFanInGA]

I don't quite get what you are trying to say.

That welfare is good because it's speeding up the impending bankruptcy and collapse?

 

[pcosmar]

Drug Testing Companies are going to see huge profits.