Drug Testing

Daily Show Hijacks Rick Scott Presser: Prove You're Not On Drugs By Peeing In This Cup

Jillian Rayfield | December 7, 2011, 5:05PM

Governor Rick Scott (R-FL)

Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi interrupted a press conference by Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) to ask him to prove to the state taxpayers that he's not on drugs by peeing in a cup.

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Paul LePage

Maine Gov: Let's Drug Test Welfare Recipients

David Taintor | November 7, 2011, 10:16AM

Welfare recipients should be treated like truck drivers, tea partying Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) says. Or, in other words, he wants to randomly drug test welfare recipients.

At a business chamber breakfast in Jay, Maine, LePage said, "I'm going to ask the Legislature to do what every truck driver in the United States of America has to do, take a random test," Maine Today reports. "I think if we're going to take our own limited resources, we ought to be able to test 'em on occasion."

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Welfare

Bizarre Anti-Welfare Board Game Re-Released With 'Obozo The Marxist Clown'

Jillian Rayfield | October 27, 2011, 5:55AM

There is no "Go" space in the anti-welfare board game "Obozo's America," but rest assured -- you can still collect welfare benefits as you pass the "First Of The Month" space.

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Florida

Judge Orders Injunction On Florida's Welfare Drug Testing Law

David Taintor | October 24, 2011, 3:51PM

A U.S. district judge on Monday ordered an injunction on a Florida law requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test before receiving state benefits.

An ACLU lawsuit filed in September claimed the Florida law violates the Fourth Amendment by requiring welfare applicants to submit to a "suspicionless" drug test. The suit was filed on behalf of Luis Lebron, a 35-year-old Orlando resident and Navy veteran who applied for welfare benefits but refused to take the drug test.

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Rick Scott

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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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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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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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.

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Rick Scott

FL Gov. Rick Scott Defends Legislation Requiring Drug Tests For Welfare Applicants (VIDEO)

David Taintor | June 6, 2011, 1:28PM

Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL)

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) on Sunday said his state will not "subsidize" anyone's drug addiction, defending recent legislation requiring welfare applicants to undergo drug testing.

Scott told CNN anchor T.J. Holmes he isn't sure how many welfare recipients are using drugs in Florida, but said "I know it's not right for taxpayer money to be paying for someone's drug addiction."

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