Florida governor to impose drug testing on welfare recipients...will get rich out of it

Okay is this thread about the fact that this is a no-bid contract so the Governor can make money, or a discussion for/against welfare? I lost track.

If it's the former, then it's corruption, plain and simple. Regardless of his party affiliation, he should not be allowed to do this. Maybe his company can bid alongside other companies and make it transparent, but no-bid? No dice.

If it's the latter, someone has to do something to scrape the barnacles off the sinking ship of entitlements. Maybe this isn't the best way, but it needs to be done.

reply to post by lunatux


Socialism is communism lite. Communism is socialism pushed to the firewall. Capitalism is more of the same, geared towards funneling the benefits to rich folks, rather than government coffers.

It's ALL totalitarianism. The danger to humanity comes neither from the left nor the right, but from the "center" - too much centralization of power will be the death of us all. I don't care if it's a right wing or a left wing centralization, it's ALL totalitarian.

My gripe with socialism, in all it's forms, is no different from my gripe with capitalism, in all it's forms. I see no difference between them, at all, other than which group of thugs hoards the power and the resources.

Socialism is for insects. Humans are individuals.

Well most of the Florida residents are for this according to thier posts except one that works in welfare, which I say is self interest, because if there are less cases in the office, thier job may be at stake. All in the end we are the ones who will have to pay, Florida residents, not anybody else, so this if a majority of us accept it, then the rest of the world can STAY OUT OF IT!
The article assumes the Governer's wife will make millions off the legislation, this is a smokescreen to detract from the real issue as LABCORP will probably do their testing as it IS LABCORP who has the contract With the Division of Children And Families. I know this frst hand. And to the "welfare worker" you'd know this if in fact you do work there, it would have been where you took your drug test to get the job.
To those saying that the children will be displaced, cry me a river. If you're a parent you should not be high. I don't mean weed, but the other more harmful drugs out there that can accidently get into the child's hands and end up causing them harm or puts your family at risk cause possible drug deals gone bad. Drug dealers are some very hard criminals. This is fact. How about parents cooking crack and meth in thier houses that are ten times more deadly than second hand smoke, but you all would like to scold a parent for smoking in the house before stopping those that are pumping out worse poisons in thier kids' lungs? How very novel!

If the recipients pass the test...they should recieve their benefits, and a rebate of their testing funds in the form of benefits.

We allow ourselves to be tested to get employment...whats the difference to be tested to get benefits?

reply to post by Vitchilo


Good. If you're on welfare and aren't doing drugs, you don't really have a problem do you? People have been wanting this for a long time and now that someones doing it they throw a bitch fit? Hahahaha.

Originally posted by AwakeinNM
Okay is this thread about the fact that this is a no-bid contract so the Governor can make money, or a discussion for/against welfare? I lost track.

If it's the former, then it's corruption, plain and simple. Regardless of his party affiliation, he should not be allowed to do this. Maybe his company can bid alongside other companies and make it transparent, but no-bid? No dice.

If it's the latter, someone has to do something to scrape the barnacles off the sinking ship of entitlements. Maybe this isn't the best way, but it needs to be done.

It's no bid because LABCORP is already contracted for this.
All the rest in the article is LIES AND PROPAGANDA.
I live in Florida, I know this first hand LABCORP does their testing. My friend was on probabtion, labcorp did her testing all state agencies go through labcorp!

Boy, has this post has gone way off track. The governor's smokescreen has blinded many here. Most of the latest posts are now divided along party lines and left/right ideologies! Who will be the first to bring religion into it?

These derailing threads are a wake up call for anyone who can see how off topic they are. It shows how easy it is for politicians to use false flags and propaganda to control people based on emotional responses. I wish I could personally edit this post, because more than half of them are completely off topic. This burns me too no end!

The problem is coke/crack, heroin, and meth have a short life in one's body so an addict can easily pass drug test especially if they have a heads up on when the test is. There are many people who collect assistance who use cannabis medicinally even though it is illegal in Florida who will probably loose their benefits because of how long it stays in one's body. Also most pain pill abusers have a prescription and will not have to worry about testing positive.

No one wants taxpayer assistance money used on drugs and this may limit some of that but I really don't think it will save taxpayers money. Whoever gets the contract to do the drug tests is the real winner and I will not be surprised if one of Rick Scott's companies gets it.

It is amazing that he got elected and proof that the majority of voters don't do any research on who they pick. His television ad with his mom saying he's a good boy won it for him.

What the heck, I'm gonna post a religious thread and see how much it can derail the actual issue of political corruption.

Matthew

20 The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?"
21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Mark

13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. 17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.


There I was the first to use religion in this post!

reply to post by MichiganSwampBuck


I know where you are getting at with that but please stay on topic. Much thanks
Btw, the camel through the eye of a needle is my favorite Parable

If the welfare recipients need to be drug tested, then every person that gets EIC on their taxes should be drug tested. Every person that drives on a road, or bridge should be drug tested. Anybody that goes to a sports stadium paid for by the local governments should be tested.

The only reason this Governor is doing this, is to line his pockets with money from the poor. We should be against corruption like this, not praising it.

Facts about Rick Scott:

Getting rich off the poor.

The short story is that Rick Scott invested millions in and profited from Emida, a company ‘that provides services that’ allow foreign workers to send billions of dollars from the U.S. home to Mexico and Latin America. Millions of immigrants, legal and illegal use these services to send billions overseas as remittances. The problem is, companies like Rick Scott’s Emida empower the illegal alien economy, motivating them even more to come to the U.S.

Again, getting rich off the poor.

However, federal investigators found that Scott took part in business practices at Columbia/HCA that were later found to be illegal -- specifically, that Scott and other executives offered financial incentives to doctors in exchange for patient referrals, in violation of federal law, according to lawsuits the Justice Department filed against the company in 2001.

And once again, getting rich off the poor.
Link

A few days before he took office in January, Scott moved his shares in Solantic Corp., a chain of 32 urgent care centers, to the Frances Annette Scott Revocable Trust. Scott co-founded Solantic in 2001 and was involved in its operation until last year. His wife's trust now holds enough stock in the private company to control it.

Solantic's walk-in clinics, clustered in mid-Florida and along the east coast, handle everything from stitches and sprains to school physicals and immunizations. Charges are posted like fast-food prices and there's a three-day feel-better guarantee — if you're not feeling better after three days, your follow-up visit is free. The company partners with hospitals in several markets, including Shands HealthCare in Gainesville.

By transferring the Solantic shares to his wife's trust, which is represented on the Solantic board by one of his former business associates, Scott maintains he is free from any possible conflicts.

Originally posted by kimish
reply to post by MichiganSwampBuck

 

I know where you are getting at with that but please stay on topic. Much thanks

Btw, the camel through the eye of a needle is my favorite Parable

I like that one too. So do I get a star like the other off topic posts?

Originally posted by ldyserenity
Well most of the Florida residents are for this according to thier posts except one that works in welfare, which I say is self interest, because if there are less cases in the office, thier job may be at stake. All in the end we are the ones who will have to pay, Florida residents, not anybody else, so this if a majority of us accept it, then the rest of the world can STAY OUT OF IT!

What happens in Florida will reverberate throughout the country, plain and simple. Also, no matter what state, high white collar crimes are being committed, it effects the U.S. as a whole. Especially if these crimes are being committed by a Governor.

The article assumes the Governer's wife will make millions off the legislation, this is a smokescreen to detract from the real issue

Are you serious? How would she(and by she I mean him) not make millions? How is LABCORP the real issue? Where do you think these drug tests will take place? Not at LABCORP.

Florida has just under 168,000 state employees, including just over 105,000 in the executive branch. For Rick Scott, that means nearly 170,000 new potential customers for his … sorry, his wife’s … Solantic walk-in clinics.

TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Rick Scott has announced a new policy of administering drug tests to all applicants for employment in state agencies controlled by the governor’s office, and random drug testing of current employees.

In an executive order issued Tuesday, Scott directed the agencies under his control to implement the policy within 60 days. He said it should “provide for the potential for any employee … to be tested at least quarterly,” including senior management.

But the ACLU of Florida said Scott’s order “attempts to resurrect a policy previously found unconstitutional by a federal judge in a 2004

… Howard Simon, ACLU executive director, said in a statement Tuesday, “The state of Florida cannot force people to surrender their constitutional rights in order to work for the state. Absent any evidence of illegal drug use, or assigned a safety-sensitive job, people have a right to be left alone.

“Coming from a Governor who promised to protect our freedoms by limiting the intrusive reach of government into our personal lives, this massive expansion of government power at the expense of basic rights is stunning and exposes the state to serious future legal liability.”

Scott has generated some controversy by proposing that recipients of welfare and unemployment be tested for drug use.

Critics say that idea is too expensive and impractical, but on Tuesday, a Senate committee moved forward a drug testing bill applying to welfare recipients.

Scott, in a statement praising the Senate committee and announcing his executive order defended both actions.

“Floridians deserve to know that those in public service, whose salaries are paid with taxpayer dollars, are part of a drug-free workplace,” Scott said in a statement.

Originally posted by ldyserenity

Originally posted by AwakeinNM
Okay is this thread about the fact that this is a no-bid contract so the Governor can make money, or a discussion for/against welfare? I lost track.

If it's the former, then it's corruption, plain and simple. Regardless of his party affiliation, he should not be allowed to do this. Maybe his company can bid alongside other companies and make it transparent, but no-bid? No dice.

If it's the latter, someone has to do something to scrape the barnacles off the sinking ship of entitlements. Maybe this isn't the best way, but it needs to be done.

It's no bid because LABCORP is already contracted for this.
All the rest in the article is LIES AND PROPAGANDA.
I live in Florida, I know this first hand LABCORP does their testing. My friend was on probabtion, labcorp did her testing all state agencies go through labcorp!

I could see that as a possibility. I especially like the post asserting that Rick Scott is "getting rich off the poor" by providing them with health clinics where they can get medical attention. That BASTARD. How dare he provide a needed service to people and make money. I guess he should do it for free out of the goodness of his bleeding heart.

reply to post by MichiganSwampBuck


Is this bill illegal? Is it against the constitution? I say no. But again, I'm not a judge. That will be up for the courts to decide. Actually, its a brilliant idea. You weed out the the ones abusing the system, provide more work and jobs for a company who does the testing. Make goverment more efficent. I know, new concept, effficent goverment. It isnt something the current administration is great at, but that doesnt mean the states cant be more efficent. Which they usually are, except for states like California who are fiscally stupid.

Originally posted by AwakeinNM
I could see that as a possibility. I especially like the post asserting that Rick Scott is "getting rich off the poor" by providing them with health clinics where they can get medical attention. That BASTARD. How dare he provide a needed service to people and make money. I guess he should do it for free out of the goodness of his bleeding heart.

Nice try. He's getting rich by using his clinics to perform the drug tests on welfare recipients and the state workers(which is against the constitution). A needed service? If drug tests are a needed service then why did he put it in an executive order.

The smoking gun here is, he unloaded all of his shares of Solantic to his wife before putting in this executive order. His WIFE!! He's making a mockery of marriage by stating he has nothing to do with Solantic. This guy is ridiculous.

Scott would be wise to specify that Solantic be left out of any government drug testing contracts, advised Bruce Rogow, a Nova Southeastern law professor who has defended elected officials accused of public corruption. So far, that hasn't happened.

We are ignoring the 'Elephant in the Room'. Drug testing employees quarterly, invades the privacy of the state employees, when they're at home alone, off the clock so to speak.

It also should be noted it will cost Florida tax payers $15 million dollars annually, just to uncostitutionally drug test the state employees.

Originally posted by kellynap43
reply to post by MichiganSwampBuck

 

Is this bill illegal? Is it against the constitution? I say no. But again, I'm not a judge. That will be up for the courts to decide. Actually, its a brilliant idea. You weed out the the ones abusing the system, provide more work and jobs for a company who does the testing. Make goverment more efficent. I know, new concept, effficent goverment. It isnt something the current administration is great at, but that doesnt mean the states cant be more efficent. Which they usually are, except for states like California who are fiscally stupid.

edit on 12-5-2011 by kellynap43 because: (no reason given)

That's the problem. It's his company, benefitting from this executive order. All he has to do is make it a contract bid, take his company out of the bidding, and their would be no conflict of interest. Why has he not done that?

Originally posted by catwhoknowsplusone
Here is an idea.

Treat welfare recipients like everyone else.

If you are doing drug tests on them, do it to your so-called high fliers as well.

I think you will find out a lot. (sniff).

I have an Uncle that is sits on the board of a recovery foundation and he travels the country speaking and working with various recovery centers.

He once told me that the amount of drug addicts and alcoholics in Washington DC and on Wall Street make most cities ghettos look like monasteries by comparison. It is just more visible in the Ghettos.

I think we should definetly drug test our politicians though…starting with the Govenor of Florida.

I just have a feeling he is destined for scandal...hookers, drugs, a young male intern...something like that....I will return to this post a year or two from now when it hits the news.

Originally posted by MichiganSwampBuck

There I was the first to use religion in this post!

Yes, you were.

Shame that it didn't have any point.

So if I pass the drug test I can have some money?