Florida: September 2011

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Florida: September 2011

Rick Scott's Odd Defense Of Much Maligned Welfare Drug Testing Program

David Taintor | September 29, 2011, 12:11PM

Governor Rick Scott (R-FL)

If Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) wants to defend the merit of his state's welfare drug testing law, this might not be the best way to do it.

On CNBC's Squawk Box Thursday morning, Scott posed a hypothetical scenario, where he thinks welfare benefits can be fairly handed out. If "there are two parents, one uses drugs, one doesn't, you can go give the money to the one who doesn't use drugs," Scott said.

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Topics: Drug Testing, Florida, Rick Scott, Welfare

Florida

Florida Senator Files Bill To Repeal Welfare Drug Testing Law

David Taintor | September 23, 2011, 5:55AM

Count Florida state Sen. Arthenia Joyner (D) as another opponent of a state law requiring welfare applicants to take a drug test.

This week, the senator filed a bill to repeal the law, saying the legislation "kicks people when they're down."

"This is not what America is supposed to be about," Joyner told TPM. The law is an "assault on poor people," she said, who need help and have swallowed their pride and asked for assistance. "And we denigrate them," she said.

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Topics: Arthenia Joyner, Drug Testing, Florida, Rick Scott, Welfare

Florida

FL Poll: Voters Overwhelmingly Favor Drug Testing Welfare Applicants

David Taintor | September 21, 2011, 2:25PM

Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL)

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has had a tumultuous first term, often coming under fire for his conservative policies.

But a new Quinnipiac poll shows Florida voters overwhelmingly support at least one of the governor's initiatives: a law that requires welfare applicants to pass a drug test.

Voters support the law 71 percent to 27 percent, according to the poll. And while voters are split on partisan lines, both genders support the law equally, more or less. Republicans support the law 90 percent to 8 percent, while democrats are split 49 percent to 50 percent.

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Topics: Drug Testing, Florida, Rick Scott, Welfare

Florida

Would You Like A High Capacity Magazine With That? FL Co Gives Away AK-47s To New Customers

Jillian Rayfield | September 16, 2011, 12:31PM

AK-47s

A Florida company called Merchant Service is offering potential clients a voucher for a free AK-47 for opening an account with them, as part of their "No Merchant Victims" campaign.

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Topics: Florida, Gun Control, Gun Rights

Florida

Judge Blocks Florida Law That Restricts Doctors From Asking Patients About Guns

David Taintor | September 15, 2011, 6:10AM

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked a Florida law that restricts doctors -- namely pediatricians -- from asking their patients about guns.

"At issue in this litigation is a law directed at maintaining patients' privacy rights regarding firearm ownership within the context of the doctor-patient relationship," the ruling reads. "In effect, however, the law curtails practitioners' ability to inquire about whether patients own firearms and burdens their ability to deliver a firearm safety message to patients, under certain circumstances."

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Topics: Florida, Gun Control, Gun Rights, Guns, Health Care

Nikki Haley

Nikki Haley 'So Wants' To Drug Test People Applying For Jobless Benefits

David Taintor | September 9, 2011, 2:32PM

Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC)

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) doesn't want Florida to have all the fun of drug testing suspicion-less citizens before receiving state benefits.

"I so want drug testing," Haley said on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. "It's something I've been wanting since the first day I walked into office."

And now Haley is trying to make that dream come true, pushing for people applying for jobless benefits to first pass a drug test before receiving any aid, the AP reports.

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Topics: Drug Testing, Florida, Nikki Haley, Rick Scott, South Carolina

Florida

Florida ACLU Files Suit Against State's Welfare Drug Testing Law

David Taintor | September 7, 2011, 2:37PM

The Florida ACLU has filed suit against a state law requiring welfare applicants to first pass a drug test before receiving benefits.

The suit claims the Florida law violates the Fourth Amendment by requiring welfare applicants to submit to "suspicionless drug testing." It's filed on behalf of Luis Lebron, a 35 year-old Orlando resident and Navy veteran, who applied for the benefits but refused to take the drug test, according to an ACLU release.