drug tests for those on assistance? Bill says also test legislators too!!!

[demtenjeep]

TOPEKA — A House Republican responded to criticism of her bill requiring random drug testing of Kansans on state assistance by proposing the same requirement for legislators.

Rep. Kasha Kelley, R-Arkansas City, said Thursday that the proposal was a direct response to allegations her House-passed bill was a mean-spirited attempt to punish impoverished people.

"I have requested an amendment to add legislators to the list of elected officials required to pass drug screening," Kelley told members of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.

The committee took no action on House Bill 2275, which was overwhelmingly passed during the 2009 legislative session by the House. The new requirement for legislators wasn't in the bill when adopted by the House.

Skepticism greeted Kelley's proposed amendment.

"She's serious?" said Sen. Roger Reitz, R-Manhattan. "For heaven's sake."

http://www.kansas.com/2010/02/27/1201489/proponent-of-drug-tests-says-test.html

[Hannah Bell]

1. i support that.

[old mark]

2. Legislatiors often forget that they are getting taxpayers' money, too...

just like them welfare folks. Test them, too - they can afford a lot better grade of drugs.


mark

[rcrush]

3. I bet the results will be interesting.

Who wants to take bets that most of them smoke meth?

[DJ13]

4. "She's serious?" "For heaven's sake."

You mean she thinks testing anyone but the poor is a good idea?!

[RKP5637]

5. I think all of congress should be drug tested!!! n/t

[eShirl]

6. ha!

good luck with that, lady

[cutlassmama]

7. Just because they are poor doesn't mean they are drug addicts. I'd be

willing to bet that several of those Congresscritters come back with dirty tests.

[demtenjeep]

8. I like this

and the R comments are very telling

[notadmblnd]

9. what's good for the goose is good for the gander

[demtenjeep]

18. exactly

right

[chaska]

10. One thing though: make them raise taxes to pay for it....

It will cost more to implement this than it would save by throwing people off the unemployment roles.

This stupid test-the-unemployed thing was just voted down here in SC. Even the GOP is smart enough to realize that sometimes it's smarter to keep the money in taxpayers' pockets than to punish this week's scapegoat.

[laughingliberal]

17. +1 nt

[Brickbat]

11. I think that's just fine.

[demtenjeep]

12. it is like the legislature about not paying for Viagra if Birth Control wasn't covered

I also think that is fine!

[demtenjeep]

13. The Dem House Minority leader almost has balls

You might think some legislators are on drugs given some of the things that happen in the Capitol," said House Minority Leader Paul Davis, D-Lawrence. "However, I don't think we need to resort to mandatory drug testing."

Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, said the state could improve monitoring of recipients in the state cash assistance programs without involving the 125 representatives and 40 senators in drug screening.

[JoeyT]

14. As funny as it would be to see our elected officials standing in line holding cups

I still don't like this bill at all.

You can bet the elected officials will get plenty of advance warning. The people on public assistance will probably get government officials showing up at their door at random times. This is just one more way to bypass the rules against illegal search and seizure to be used against the poor. (Seriously: Does anyone think that anyone that tests positive won't be raided by the cops within the hour?)
They've got a three strikes system they're proud of to use against the poor, but I can't find the penalty for public officials that test positive. Do they fall under the three strikes system too? Three strikes and they forfeit their office? No, of course not.

[pnorman]

15. The ONLY excuse for what comes close to infringing on the 4th Amendment,

is when the person is engaging activities that could result in injuries or death, or substantial damage if that person's ability or sense of judgment may be impaired . To use it for any other purpose, would be to invite contempt for the law.

[demtenjeep]

16. I believe that is what most people are saying

.