Kansas Drug Testing Next On The Docket Of 'Ultraconservative' Bills

[RKP5637]

I posted this in GD, because I think it's important for others on DU to know what is going on in Kansas. The Kansas DU group does not get a whole lot of activity. The Koch Brother political machine is also in KS with lots of $$$$$ behind it, so what happens in Kansas does not necessarily stay in Kansas.

IMO politicians should be drug tested. They are public servants (although they don't get that) and we fund them and their lifestyles. So I say, drug test all politicians too.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/25/kansas-drug-testing_n_2551592.html

Lawmakers seeking to abolish income taxes and stymie unions in Kansas think it might also be worthwhile to make the poor and unemployed pee in cups to prove they're not wasting taxpayer money on drugs.

State Democrats are gearing up for a fight over the policy. State Rep. John Wilson (D-Lawrence) expressed concerns with the constitutionality of the proposal, noting that states that have implemented similar laws have not seen results.

"It's an unfair assumption that anyone on welfare is untrustworthy," Wilson told HuffPost. "There is no difference between welfare recipients and the general public when it comes to drug use. To assume those on welfare will do drugs is inappropriate."

Wilson said he has heard opposition from constituents, who asked why welfare recipients were being singled out. He said one resident told him that anyone who receives a benefit from tax dollars -- including state employees and public university students -- would have to be subjected to the same drug-testing requirements to prevent a double standard.

[Myrina]

1. Indiana too ... it seems all of the GOP governors have the same playbook ...

... issued to them from the Koch's

[RKP5637]

4. There's a lot going on under the covers, so to say, in the US and we have a MSM that is often

just a propaganda machine.

ALEC and Kock go hand-in-hand.

ALEC Exposed: The Koch Connection

http://www.thenation.com/article/161973/alec-exposed-koch-connection

Hundreds of ALEC’s model bills and resolutions bear traces of Koch DNA: raw ideas that were once at the fringes but that have been carved into “mainstream” policy through the wealth and will of Charles and David Koch. Of all the Kochs’ investments in right-wing organizations, ALEC provides some of the best returns: it gives the Kochs a way to make their brand of free-market fundamentalism legally binding.

[think]

2. It's pretty obvious

the Grand Old Party really hates poor people.

[Arcanetrance]

3. They say they're doing this to prove they aren't spending taxpayers money on drugs.

But it seems that's exactly what they are doing. This would be amusing if this wasn't happening for real

[RKP5637]

5. So much is like some twisted version of the Twilight Zone series today. n/t

[Myrina]

6. Instead, they're diverting taxpayer money to their pals' companies who do the testing ...

... nobody ever stops to do that math, though, do they?

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Kansas has been taken over by crazies who are completely out of touch with the people they represent

[RKP5637]

8. What I don't understand is why Kansans keep voting these people into office, and in the

last election they kicked about all moderates out of office. Is this stuff really that they want? Take Brownback, for example, surely Kansas have to know what he's about, but they voted him in as governor ...

[MuseRider]

9. That is the age old question

My only thoughts on that is that they hear absolutely nothing left of the Koch brothers bullshit. I can't speak for the cities, that I have no clue about because at least they hear a little. Like I said before, I heard from people that they had no idea there was anyone running against Brownback until they saw the ballot. Now that is just stupid on their part, obviously they never tried to find out but it is indicative of the isolation from other ideas in parts of the state. I live close to Topeka, it takes a hell of an effort to find out any information on candidates. I know Topeka is having a primary soon over local offices including Mayor (than god they will have someone else) and I looked around yesterday and never did find out who the third candidate was running for that office. Of course it is even harder now that they want to charge $480/year for that horrible rag the Cap Journal so I can't really see much before they boot me off the site and I know I am not alone in that.

No idea RKP, no clue. It is baffling and this is the only thing I can think of because there has to be a reason like this. I know a lot of people who I think the world of but I know they vote like this. Not one clue.

PS, you got out of here right? So far from what I hear the dems have nobody to run against Brownback. I hope that is not the case but from the party insiders that is what I hear. He is likely to run unopposed or opposed by a last minute throw away candidate with 0 support from the party.