Republican Logic

Obviously the best way to stop all those welfare hand-outs making people rich across the country is to punish the people who need a social safety net the most:

Saying it is "unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction," Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed legislation requiring adults applying for welfare assistance to undergo drug screening.

"It's the right thing for taxpayers," Scott said after signing the measure. "It's the right thing for citizens of this state that need public assistance. We don't want to waste tax dollars. And also, we want to give people an incentive to not use drugs."

Shaming is not an incentive. It's a disincentive, and it's a totally ineffective one, at that.

Under the law, which takes effect on July 1, the Florida Department of Children and Family Services will be required to conduct the drug tests on adults applying to the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The aid recipients would be responsible for the cost of the screening, which they would recoup in their assistance if they qualify. Those who fail the required drug testing may designate another individual to receive the benefits on behalf of their children.

Oh, good. That definitely sounds like a fool-proof system that will never be abused by people who take advantage of addicts at the expense of their children.

Shortly after the bill was signed, five Democrats from the state's congressional delegation issued a joint statement attacking the legislation, one calling it "downright unconstitutional."

"Governor Scott's new drug testing law is not only an affront to families in need and detrimental to our nation's ongoing economic recovery, it is downright unconstitutional," said Rep. Alcee Hastings. "If Governor Scott wants to drug test recipients of TANF benefits, where does he draw the line? Are families receiving Medicaid, state emergency relief, or educational grants and loans next?"

Rep. Corrine Brown said the tests "represent an extreme and illegal invasion of personal privacy."

"Indeed, investigating people when there is probable cause to suspect they are abusing drugs is one thing," Brown said in the joint statement. "But these tests amount to strip searching our state's most vulnerable residents merely because they rely on the government for financial support during these difficult economic times."

Excellent points. Btw, Reps. Alcee Hastings and Corrine Brown are both members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who no doubt are keenly aware of the implicit and effective racism in this bullshit legislation, in a state in which 38% of black children and 25% of Latin@ children live in poverty (versus 12% of white children).

So what is it that could have convinced Governor Scott to break with the Republican Party's unwavering support of privacy and civil liberties (lulz) in order to sign legislation which is anathema to every professed tenet of personal liberty (lulz) his party espouses?

Controversy over the measure was heightened by Scott's past association with a company he co-founded that operates walk-in urgent care clinics in Florida and counts drug screening among the services it provides.

Oh. Right.