Florida Drops Appeals in Welfare Drug Testing Case

[inanna]

Source: Associated Press

Florida Gov. Rick Scott will not seek U.S. Supreme Court review of a law that would have required applicants for welfare benefits to submit to mandatory drug testing

The law, a top priority of the Republican governor's first term, was ruled unconstitutional by two federal courts. Scott's administration did not ask the Supreme Court to consider the case by a Tuesday deadline.

American Civil Liberties Union of Florida Executive Director Howard Simon said that means lower court rulings invalidating the 2011 law will stand.

"After nearly four years of litigation, this ugly attack on poor Floridians has finally come to an end," Simon said Wednesday. "This law was always about scoring political points on the backs of Florida's poor and treating them like suspected criminals without suspicion or evidence."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/florida-drops-appeals-welfare-drug-testing-case-29394745

[Major Nikon]

1. Seems like FL didn't want to take a sure loser to the SCOTUS

Where it would be deemed law of the land rather than just for the 11th Circuit.

[Demeter]

2. Nah. Florida just ran out of suckers---money

[LynneSin]

3. Actually, Florida's Welfare/Drug Testing program was very successful....

We just failed to realize what the actual goal of the program: To move Florida Tax Dollars into the hands of the CEOs of Drug Testing companies, many who are close personal friends of Rick Scott's.

[onethatcares]

7. do you mean

that Solandra is owned by his wife???? No conflict of interest there, nope,none, nada, zip.

I want him to resign so badly it hurts.

[LynneSin]

10. His wife??!! I thought it was sister

Shows what I know.

[tomsaiditagain]

4. That's all they want

to do is rule with a theocratic lying oligarch mind. The rich in this country are pushing this country towards a revolution. They are so self righteous and all that when in fact they are the actual scum of this planet.

[sorefeet]

5. Montana is doing the same exact thing

they know they can't win but they insist on pissing away tax dollars, as stupid as they can. They can't get enough of sticking their noses in every ones business.

[2naSalit]

9. So...

when was that? I live in Montana and have received public assistance from more than one agency and have never had a drug test nor was the possibility of taking one ever mentioned.

Montana is one of the few states I have lived in where I don't have the state sticking its nose into my business.

What are you talking about?

[sorefeet]

11. It starts August the first

my girl friend told me about it. And I am pretty sure I read it in the Gazette.

[2naSalit]

13. Interesting

I'll ask about that when I go to town later this week, I see no reference to the practice on their web site.

[progree]

6. Aren't there some states with these laws on the books and in force?

Apparently there are:
http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/drug-testing-and-public-assistance.aspx

At least twelve states have passed legislation regarding drug testing or screening for public assistance applicants or recipients (Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah.) Some apply to all applicants; others include specific language that there is a reason to believe the person is engaging in illegal drug activity or has a substance use disorder; others require a specific screening process.

so why did Rick Scott fold?

How far has it been judicially tested in those 12 states above? (other than Florida where we know if failed in federal district court and the 11th circuit court of appeals)

Just wondering if anyone has some info on this. Thanks

[sorefeet]

12. I think it already failed

in Michigan too.

[Still In Wisconsin]

8. Walker's pushing this hard in Wisconsin (naturally)

I'm sure it all comes straight from ALEC.

[sorefeet]

14. I googled NCSL

National Conference of State Legislators. Interesting site. And yes Montana is on the list.