Setback for FL Governor in his War on the Poor

From SaintPetersBlog - bad news for Florida Governor Rick Scott, a brave warrior in the War on the Poor:

In a major setback for Gov. Rick Scott’s administration, requiring welfare applicants to submit to drug tests is unconstitutional, according to a district court ruling Tuesday.

Scott immediately announced he would appeal the decision on the controversial 2011 law, reports Dara Kam of the News Service of Florida. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven is a significant defeat for the governor in the extended dispute over drug testing many of Florida’s poorest residents.

Scriven found that demanding urine tests as a precondition for government aid violates the Fourth Amendment’s protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Governor Scott's response:

Running on a campaign platform of mandatory drug testing, Scott insisted that urine tests are necessary to ensure poor children do not grow up in drug-riddled homes.

“Any illegal drug use in a family is harmful and even abusive to a child. We should have a zero tolerance policy for illegal drug use in families — especially those families who struggle to make ends meet and need welfare assistance to provide for their children,” Scott said in a statement response to Tuesday’s ruling. “We will continue to fight for Florida children who deserve to live in drug-free homes by appealing this judge’s decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals.”

Yep. Because drug use is harmful and abusive to children. Growing up homeless and hungry is just character building! 



Scott's ties to drug testing company.