Florida governor signs welfare drug-screen measure

LadyJazzer wrote: The tests cost the same, whether they come back negative or positive... "Follow the money".... Who stands to gain from an enormous amount of money being pumped into the system by a state-mandated program? Who owns the primary chain of labs? <snip>....

I am with LJ on this one. This is actually a testament to smaller government. With small government there will be less pay out to the politicians and their cronies.

If you want people to have food, then supply them with food, not money and definitely not drug tests and money. Many churches and charities already deliver food to the needy on a regular basis.

This has been fun reading all the deflections, but the issue reminds me of something I'm sure most of you liberals are all for. So here's my deflection....you know that emission test we have to run our cars through before we can get license plates? Did you know that every used car has to take the test at $25 a pop but only about 6% fail the test? And guess what, it costs the same if it passes or fails...sound familiar? Where do those millions go?

I'd be interested to know what percentage of welfare recipients fail, I'll bet it's much higher that 6% and it's costing ALL Americans much more that the worthless emission tests. The difference being that the polluting cars are being phased out with time but unemployed drug users are multiplying.

I could care less who is using drugs as long as I'm not FORCED to pay for them with my tax dollars. I also don't understand why it's sooooo bad to test government employees when it's the norm in the private sector.

I do agree with Daisy that welfare should not be in the form of a check, it should be a credit for food or housing.

When did the state start paying for the emissions tests with tax dollars? I had to pay for my own.

I thought of the car emissions as well. A state program that transferred individuals' $$ to Envirotest Systems Corp. just as the drug testing will transfer our tax $$ to the testing companies.

daisypusher wrote: I thought of the car emissions as well. A state program that transferred individuals' $$ to Envirotest Systems Corp. just as the drug testing will transfer our tax $$ to the testing companies.

ok....I see the analogy, but with the drug testing, the government is using everyone's tax dollars for the testing, at least with emissions, only those who have a car in the specified cities pay. You are paying only for yourself with emissions testing. In FL all taxpayers are paying for drug testing state workers and welfare recipients, or will the state workers be required to pay for their own drug test? I doubt it.

Abolish the DEA and legalize drugs. There's smaller government for you...

Soulshiner wrote: Abolish the DEA and legalize drugs. There's smaller government for you...

neptunechimney wrote:

Soulshiner wrote: Abolish the DEA and legalize drugs. There's smaller government for you...

It would do wonders for stability in Mexico and Central America as well.

What an interesting thread- and interesting to see all the liberals defending all the dopeheads in our welfare state.

I don't think it's at all intrusive to require people who are asking for the government (us taxpayers) to pay for their housing, food and health care to prove that they are not on drugs. Yes- it sets a precedence that if you really need the help- we have a requirement to be dope free.

So much for small government lovers.Gov intrusion at its worst., Lets test student loan recipients, medicare and SS , disability people. Seniors get gov help . Lets drug test everyone. Great Idea. Hypocrites!
Better yet set up a department of " drug test everybody that gets help form the Gov." Great use of tax money. moronic , and I am being kind.

It is an intrusion into every tax paying citizen's financial life to be supporting our welfare state. It takes me longer to pay for a house, pay for a car, and pay my taxes because of the money that leaves my pockets to support a bunch of loser dopeheads. A drug test does not cost much money these days- about 10 bucks. It should be a requirement - anywhere in this country, that if you recieve welfare, subsidized housing, food stamps or medical care you should have to show that your not on drugs.

That is not a punishment, it is a condition imposed in order to obtain the charity. Most addicts and drug abusers also remain forever in need of assistance. By requiring that you get treatment and demonstrate that you are living a clean life, your chances of being able to emerge from your current condition is enhanced. If you prefer to live in a drug induced haze, then perhaps you are not deserving of the charity that you are receiving. That is not a punishment, it is simply recognizing that you have demonstrated you are not interested in helping yourself and a refusal to do for you what you will not do for yourself.

PS has posted some very good points- and I have no doudt that many dopeheads will find it much more important to keep doing the drugs than recieve welfare. For those who are really in need, they may find it more important to quit the drugs for the sake of their family's welfare. Anyway you look at this - it's a win-win. Taxpayers either stop supporting dopheads or they get the satisfaction of knowing that their money is going to support people who at least need the help more than they need drugs.

You all seem to forget that there are some poor people, and disabled people, and sick people on welfare who are NOT drug addicts.

Good point here too- but how many? I will be willing to bet that MOST of the people on welfare are abusing drugs, and that it has contributed to them being too lazy to support themselves.

And don't forget- the dopheads can go right on being dopeheads if they want, they just won't qualify for the gobberment cheese!

And please - spare me the liberal whine, I work for a living, I'm supporting these dopeheads with my tax money. Yes if it were up to me I would eliminate the welfare state in it's entirety. But I would love to put some strings attached to this money, do we (those paying for the welfare) not have the right to ecxpect that the money not go to support dopeheads?

Wanna be a dophead- do it on your own dime!

And PS- I work for my money. I had to take a drug test in order to get the job I have- they also random test at any time. So if I have to do this to EARN money - those who get my money for free should also be subject to random tests.

I also work for my money and am tired of dopeheads that travel on highways that are paid for with my tax dollars. I demand that everyone that rides on those roads be tested for drugs. After all, there are those that don't pay any income tax that use those roads and they shouldn't be able to use the taxpayer funded amenity if they have the funds to buy their dope.