Why some hard data is needed before Florida passes more stupid laws

The GOP stereotype of the welfare queen

Rick Scott instituted a drug test for welfare recipients. Of the people who took the test, only 2.5 per cent failed which represents 9 people.

Nearly 600 went through every step of the application process but were denied benefits because they declined to take the test.

A judge stopped the program because she thought many of the decliners may have done so because the test cost $30 and they couldn't afford the fee.

If the state had thought the drug test program through, it would have used their nickle to pay for the drug tests. Charging a welfare applicant a fee to get welfare benefits is peculiar and inappropriate.

U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven halted the program. She wrote in her order that she was not impressed with the data the Florida government provided on the program.

A TBO article indicated the program was not cost effective and saved no money.

Had the government not stereotyped welfare applicants, they could have run a pilot program to see if this program would save the state money and if welfare recipients have a drug problem.

Florida has many fine universities that can do this sort of a study.

Instead the Rick Scott government used a stereotype that assumed many people were on welfare because of drugs. This was a bad assumption.

This is also an example of Rush Limbaugh style class warfare

sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/25/rick-scott-drug-test-welfare_n_1031024.html

http://www2.tbo.com/news/politics/2011/aug/24/3/welfare-drug-testing-yields-2-percent-positive-res-ar-252458/

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