Rick Scott Sued By ACLU Over Mandatory Drug Testing For Florida State Workers

MIAMI — The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida is suing Florida Gov. Rick Scott over ordering drug testing for all state employees, regardless of suspicion.

The ACLU says the measure is an overreach of the Republican governor's powers and intrudes into employees' private lives. Scott's order expands drug testing to all employees, not just those who drive, carry weapons or deal with children.

Scott's office defends the measure as a way to make sure the state is paying for a healthy and productive workforce. Spokeswoman Amy Graham says they are confident it will be upheld by the courts.

Alma Gonzalez, an employee for the state employees' union, says testing will cost millions at a time of severe budget cuts.

Comments

[dixdarlin]

09:11 PM on 06/13/2011

This man needs to have psychological testing!

[Rileyman]

02:06 PM on 06/13/2011

I suggest governor scott be the first in line, followed by his appointees and then all elected officals.
If this takes place no one can complain...

[Christian09]

04:29 PM on 06/06/2011

Is there any mathematical possibility that his approval rating can go negative?

[Captimprobable]

10:04 AM on 06/04/2011

Hey, while we're at it...there's just GOT to be some drivers on the Florida highway that partake in drugs...we should test'em all before a license is approved! Probably cut down on accidents! Oh!...and renters and first time home owners...lord knows we need to see if they're responsible enough to make good on agreed upon contracts and not leave people hanging while they spend all their rent or mortgage money on drugs, test'em!

People on food stamps obviously have to be smoke'in the good stuff, otherwise they could afford to buy food for themselves...test'em!

I figure almost all the disabled people who receive state aid via supplements or medical care just have to be up to something. Sitt'in around, all disabled and stuff...test'em! They're probably fake'in it anyway!

Florida...keeping stereotypes alive and well!

[MaryLouWho]

11:01 AM on 06/07/2011

Loved your reply! But don't forget that those getting educational grants should also be tested and how about those tax credits that people get? (How do they get refunds when they don't pay any taxes?) Those are freebies paid for by the taxpayers too! If drug testing for these groups of people was suggested, I think welfare applicants would be safe from this particular discrimination.

[PJ M]

09:57 AM on 06/04/2011

Google is a wonderful thing ...

It appears Rick Scott paid his campaign workers with American Express gift cards instead of real checks ....

Recall Rick !!!

[PJ M]

09:25 AM on 06/04/2011

I am proposing a pee for scott campaign ....

Pee in a bottle, write the word "No" on the bottle and mail it to Scott ...

Constitutionally protected free speech ...

[PJ M]

09:16 AM on 06/04/2011

Hello Rick,

You have a law degree from SMU ...

Did you skip constitutional law?

Please read the fourth amendment again or possibly for the first time ...

Rick Scott putting the Duh back in Floriduh

[Denese Sookha]

08:32 AM on 06/04/2011

And just how much will all of these drug test cost the Sate of Florida? And how much will the labs profit from this law?

[deb0214]

03:01 PM on 06/03/2011

Florida facing a $3.75 billion dollar budget shortfall....the 3rd highest unemployment in the nation, over a million unemployed with one available job for every 5 jobless, record foreclosures, families, children homeless, thousands of public workers, teachers, state employees to lose their jobs, education budget, nursing home/elderly oversight, poor-low income assistance budgets gutted. Public/state employees haven't received a wage increase in five years, now taking a 3% "tax" to contribute to pensions.

But spending taxpayer dollars on DRUG TESTING state employee is Rick Scott's priority ???

[leftyrock]

04:18 PM on 06/03/2011

his wife's company needs the business.....if she worked at McDonalds, Gov Scott would make all schools get their lunches from Mickey D's...he a shill out to grift as much cash as quickly as he can.....

[Common sense for all]

08:59 PM on 06/03/2011

It all makes perfect sense when you know that the company handling the drug tests is owned by his Wife.

Really we need to check what the rest of his family is involved in since i am sure if we find someone with a massive share in coca cola he will rule that all school kids MUST drink 24 oz of Coca Cola everyday at the expense of the city of course. All to ensure his enterprise will be as profitable as possible.

Rick Scott is just the biggest fiasco ever elect to office in Florida, Make that the whole country as well he is so far out of touch with reality that he really makes Sharron Angle in Nevada look competent.

[Kristy Peak]

05:59 PM on 06/06/2011

Actually he is still listed as an officer on Florida Division of Corporations, so money in his pocket.

[katelyndn]

01:10 PM on 06/03/2011

As a Florida Resident I have been mostly Anti-Scott. But whatever the ulterior motives may be- this is definitely a step in the right direction! Wish he could drug test for the companies with contracts at different DJJ locations. If I could tell you of the corruption and unsafe people working there. UGH!

[leftbehind2000]

07:10 PM on 06/03/2011

So ring 'em up for corruption! What does pot have to do with it?

[Lisa Dawson Andrzejczyk]

10:59 AM on 06/03/2011

Thank you ACLU!!

[Common sense for all]

09:00 PM on 06/03/2011

It is the only thing we have to ensure that the constitution doesnt get violated by the far right everyday.

[BeachN]

02:38 AM on 06/03/2011

I am still scratching my head trying to figure out what idiots actually voted in to office a CRIMINAL and what did you expect him to do while in office knowing his past????? Why didn't you vote for the convicted felon that ran against him??? OMG ..what has my country turned in to...I am so ashamed to say I am from America..Land of idiots who elect actors and criminal to run our country... This year only proves we are getting even worse in our expectations for leaders..

[missyme]

10:42 PM on 06/02/2011

Rick Scott! Floridians are just paying for their 2010 mistakes but Rick Scott will be a one term governor. He does not represent what the state stands for, just the blind 29% of the people who still approve of him. Rick Scott is in it for himself. He wants small government but he spent millions to be part of the government so that he can send everyone in Florida to get drug tests at his/his wife drug testing company. He has the highest disapproval rate (57%) of all US governors. Go America. Floridians will send him home in 2014. Don't worry.

[Rory Canfield]

08:21 AM on 06/03/2011

And yet Nancy Pelosi beats out Rick Scott in disapproval with a 59% disapproval rating and then Harry Reid comes in with a 51% disapproval rating. And yall think Scott is bad LOL.

[MoeB]

10:53 AM on 06/03/2011

I doubt anyone in Congress has a high approval rating. But let's be consistent. The comparison is governors, not members of Congress.

Do you really think that Pelosi won't get re-elected in her state?

[leftyrock]

04:16 PM on 06/03/2011

oh poor misled Rory........this is a story about A Govenor not congresspeople, I am spelling slowly, because i know you can't read fast

[OldJazzyGirl]

10:35 PM on 06/02/2011

And, of course, the state funded drug testing will take place at Solantic, a company owned by Scott, but now in his wife's name. Just another Rep looting the taxpayer funds.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/gov-rick-scotts-drug-testing-policy-stirs-suspicion-1350922.html

[Mister C]

04:24 AM on 06/03/2011

A DAYUM SHAME Old Jazzy Mama! F

[katelyndn]

01:11 PM on 06/03/2011

I wonder if he will have the audacity to really do that? Ehh he probably will, that and the welfare testing.. Still two things that regardless of how they get done ---needed to.

[ocrmom59]

09:51 PM on 06/02/2011

I wonder where are all those who was in such a hurry to vote for republicans and teaparties people in November because of the president being black is really feeling about now. I bet there are a lot of people behind closed doors to afraid to be around honest and real american people for feeling so dumb to getting used by the oldest card in the world, the race card.

I bet about now that they wish they had not let their hatred for people of color get in the way of real progress and now seeing that they are responsible for letting loose people who have no love for no one including themselves.

I think the more outragous the republicans party become the more they will see at election just how much they really have woke up those who they fool and they will not like the outcome.

[Rory Canfield]

08:23 AM on 06/03/2011

Oh look, a liberal threw out the race card. Now there is a surprise, not. By the way, one black parent and one white parent equals mulatto, not black.

[MoeB]

10:58 AM on 06/03/2011

I get your point, but c'mon. If liberals are guilty of tossing out the "race card", then conservatives are guilty of assuming that there is NO racism at ALL involved in the hatred of our President. Need I remind you of the emails depicting the WH with watermelons riddled all over it with the President and First Lady there...was that aimed at his white side or his black side? Depicting the First Lady as a "gorilla". Signs at TP rallies saying Obama will institute "white slavery"...saying Obama wanted to give "reparations to blacks". And this is not even counting the racist emails sent by ELECTED REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS. So while I get it about the "race card", let's not pretend these accusations come from nowhere.