Reply #1: Here is a non-Fox link: Dem, GOP lawmakers offer dueling drug-testing bills

[Ian David]

Dem, GOP lawmakers offer dueling drug-testing bills
By Jim Siegel
The Columbus Dispatch - September 01, 2011 13:09 PM

After a northeast Ohio Republican said last week that he plans to introduce a bill requiring anyone who gets public assistance from the state to first pass a drug test, a Democrat from the region today countered with a proposal requiring the same of legislators and Ohio Supreme Court justices.

Under a proposal by Sen. Timothy J. Grendell, R-Chesterland, any Ohioan who needs cash, medical, housing, food or energy assistance, including unemployment benefits, first must submit to a drug test. The applicant would have to pay for the test, but would be reimbursed if the person passes.

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Rep. Robert F. Hagan, D-Youngstown, countered with a proposal to require drug testing of state legislators, Supreme Court justices, statewide elected officials, and board members for JobsOhio, the new non-profit entity that is taking over state economic development efforts.

“It is hypocritical to demand that the average Ohioan and working poor should be held to a higher standard than the political elite in this state,” he said. “Substance abuse is substance abuse, and receiving tax dollars is receiving tax dollars. It shouldn’t matter who you are.”

More:
http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/content/blogs/the-daily-briefing/2011/09/drug-testing-debate.html


See also:

98 Percent of Welfare Applicants Pass Drug Test

Thanks to Florida Gov. Rick Scott's insistence that people on welfare use drugs at a higher rate than the general population, the state's Legislature implemented a policy earlier this year requiring all applicants for temporary cash assistance to pass a drug test before getting any help.

The results: Ninety-eight percent passed. And the process will cost the state $178 million.

The Tampa Tribune reports that the Department of Children and Families says about 2 percent of applicants are failing the test and another 2 percent are not completing the application process for unspecified reasons.

Here's the Tribune's assessment of how much the state will pay:

More:
http://www.theroot.com/buzz/98-welfare-applicants-pass-drug-test