Florida Welfare Drug Testing Law, Governor Rick Scott Targeted By The Daily Show

The Daily Show went after Florida's highly debated welfare drug testing law in a Thursday night segment featuring state Rep. Scott Plakon (R-Longwood) and Luis Lebron, a 35-year-old Navy veteran who successfully sued the state over the law.

Aasif Mandvi, a Daily Show correspondent, sat down with Plakon and Lebron to discuss the assumptions the law makes about people on welfare, the Florida Independent reports.

"I wouldn't say that poor people love drugs, Aasif, but if we are giving you money, we're asking you to take this test," Plakon said, defending the law after Mandvi joked that "we know how much poor people love drugs."

Lebron continued to dismiss the law and again refused to take a drug test after Mandvi presented him with a cup to pee in.

"It's casting a cloud over a population of people with no factual evidence," Lebron said.

The Daily Show also targeted the law in December, when Florida Governor Rick Scott made an appearance to discuss his budget proposal. Mandvi asked Scott to pee in a cup, to which the governor replied, "You don't get to run this."

The law has received opposition for some time now. In September 2011 the ACLU challenged the legislation, and in October 2011 a judge halted the law, saying it may violate the Constitution's ban on unreasonable searches and seizures.

Comments

[Stephanie Supernova]

11:12 PM on 02/06/2013

i think the drug Testing is great..I think many people know they are not going to pass the test so they just don't pay the $30 and call it it a day and of course that will not be documented. This is one of not very much I liked about Rick Scott. Although,I'd like to see all politicians taking drug tests as well people take drug test for jobs all the time. Why not? I haven't been stuck in line behind a women with a prada bag and Iphone and her nails all did up using a EBT card lately...so,I am just going to take that as a sign that something is right.

[Groundford]

12:08 AM on 06/24/2012

Just boils down the the fact if I give you something I just want something in return. Why do you care if you don't use drugs? When you get a job you have to do things that you don't like but that is what there paying you for. Seems to me if your are receiving something you must do something in return to receive. Just that simple.

[Eileen Carman]

10:50 AM on 06/11/2012

If some are forced to undergo drug tests to keep my employment there should be a requirement that those receiving tax payer supported relief that they too undergo drug testing to keep getting welfare. Why support the habits of welfare recipients?

[FunkyP]

09:12 AM on 08/23/2012

Because, Eileen, Florida has found that a tiny fraction of recipients tested positive for drugs.
More money is thus wasted on drug testing the drug-free, costing Florida more money.
Taxpayer money, in a time of economic hardship, is being wasted while the needs of the State go unmet for lack of funds.
You apparently are unconcerned that Gov. Scott transferred ownership of Solantic, (a medical provider in Florida with emergency clinics throughout the state) to his wife.
Solantic provides services such as drug testing. More drug testing, more money for Solantic.
Rick Scott is an expert at extricating taxpayer money for his own benefit.
That's why the company he formerly ran paid over a billion dollar fine for medicare fraud.
Why support the 'habits' of welfare recipients (such as food clothing and shelter)?
Because they cost less absent the program being run to test them.

[watchintheshipgodown]

08:42 AM on 06/07/2012

Why not drug test. Keep recipients honest. Those of us in the workforce are tested. And while we are at it, why not test the politicians who receive government paychecks, although it would require a lot more than drug testing to keep a politician honest.

[ABarrett]

10:35 PM on 04/21/2012

Since the drug law cost more than it saved, and TANF recipients have LOWER drug positives than the general population (most are children and single-parent moms trying to raise those kids) you have to wonder....

...does Gov. Scott really want to go after welfare "drug addicts" (his words) or does he (or his relatives or friends) own shares in the drug testing company and profit directly or indirectly?

Even if he doesn't, the law is unconstitutional. You have to have a genuine suspicious of drug addiction before asking for personal bodily fluids. You can't just blanket test.

[mikejames697]

12:35 AM on 04/28/2012

Almost everyone I know, has to give a UA for their job. Why is this any different?

[DRAMOS974]

11:37 AM on 06/15/2012

Don't need any suspicion to have to take and pass a drug test prior to being employed... what's your point???

[mimisc]

05:43 PM on 03/14/2012

Let's just do drug testing on everyone who receives a government check including governors, senators, congressmen, mayors, city councilmen, teachers, policemen, and the list goes on

[starchildjg24]

10:56 AM on 04/13/2012

Great idea, but where do we get the millions of dollars that would cost?

[Eileen Carman]

10:51 AM on 06/11/2012

Some who are employed by the government do get drug tested. Its just not done on supervisors, Congressional personnel, the president, governors, teachers etc.

[NYJoan]

07:53 PM on 02/20/2012

I am disappointed with Jon Stewart. He really missed the mark here. People are drug testsed all the time to gain employment. Why shouldn't people be tested for a handout? The law if fair. They should do it in all 50 states.

[S Anthony Ulibarri]

01:14 PM on 02/28/2012

I think you missed hte point. The daily show was pointing out the hypocrisy of the bill. That the politicians who receive tax payer money are not willing to submit themselves for a drug test and they are forcing people on welfare to do so. You also seemed to miss the point entirely thatonly 2% of the welfare recipients were failing, while 9% of the population not on welfare failed to pass. Which invalidates the FLorida's governers claim that most welfare recipients are on drugs. They also pointed out that this bill is causing a loss to the taxpayers of $200,000 and most importantly, that it violates the constitution on illegal search and seizures. As for drug testing in the private sector, the COMPANIES pay for that. There still is some question anyway regarding needing a drug test for employment. Your argument is erroneous.

[NYJoan]

12:06 PM on 03/01/2012

I don't think I missed the point and my argument is not erroneous. Rather, yours is not really well-thoughtout. Instead you just accepted what they had to say as the truth and didn't question it yourself. Perhaps I was jumping forward in my argument and assuming others would follow along. I see the "hypocrisy" as you call it but I don't believe it is hypocrisy. First you say that the law makers won't submit to a test. Well the situation under which they asked the man was inappropriate and any one who watched it would agree. In addition, I am a public employee in NY and I have no problem paying $30 for a drug tests if they want to test me. Go ahead. I will pass and I will get my $30 back. Then you state that only 2% fail the test. Perhaps only 2% are failing because most people who know they will fail won't waste their $30 on the test. They'd rather spend it on something else - I don't know, maybe drugs? You also say it violates the constitution. That's a weak subjective argument. These people are not being charged with a crime. They are being denied welfare. It's a big difference. I think this bill is the result of people being sick of paying for people who do absolutely nothing but stand there with their hands out or continue to have children and expect the taxpayers to pay for it.

[SithWillRiseAgain]

11:01 AM on 03/31/2012

You'll never win with a tr o ll. Just ignore.

[NYJoan]

12:08 PM on 03/01/2012

And to continue because I was cut off at the end of my last comment:
At least the public employees who were interviewed for this piece actually work and attempt to make the state of Florida a better place. And I certainly can see why the man refused the test when asked in the middle of a news conference or in the middle of an interview. For the media to put a liberal spin on it is annoying and a waste of time. It's just muddying the waters on a slow news day. I don't think it is unfair to ask for people to be drug tested for welfare. I do think it should be mandated in all 50 states. And I can't imagine why any hard working taxpayer would balk at this law.

[Chris Weatherspoon]

12:14 PM on 03/08/2012

NYJoan, I'm in total agreement with you. The problem with the argument of illegal search and seizure is that it only applies when the government is attempting gather information from a citizen without just cause or due process. If you apply this idea to say, getting your drivers license, then it would wrong for the government to require an eye exam or written testing. The assumption being made is that the recipients are Entitled to welfare (therefore and inalienable right) when in fact it is a privilege, such as having a drivers license and can and should come with certain requirements as deemed appropriate by the government. If they don't want to take the drug testing, then they don't have to apply for welfare.

[Karol Singleton]

07:42 AM on 02/10/2012

There is no reason not to take a drug test. "illegal " drugs... Illegal is the key word. There is no reason to subsidize anyone's income , even with housing, food, medical. If they are using drugs illgally.
If you can afford drugs.. you can afford to keep yourself.
EBT should also test for smoking, anyone who can afford cig's cigars etc etc.. can afford to keep themselves. They have no right to EBT, WIC welfare medical. None.

[rakrobn]

06:41 PM on 02/12/2012

Then we will drug test you for when you start receiving taxpayer money, a.k.a. Medicare and Social Security. Deal?

[maryfran1955]

08:53 AM on 02/14/2012

Let me say this about that.....Social Security is my money, I pay into it every year! This money comes from me........I pay taxes every year! And hey if they want to drug test me for ILLEGAL drugs then that's okay too. BUT DON'T FORGET SOCIAL SECURITY MONEY IS MINE I PAID INTO IT FOR YEARS, SINCE I WAS 16 YEARS OLD......

[bonnielee729]

04:11 PM on 06/10/2012

I paid into Social Security for 50 years and I have to pay $100.00 a month now for Medicare. What have welfare people paid into to collect their money?

[SithWillRiseAgain]

11:02 AM on 03/31/2012

Our politicians do lots of cocaine. We subsidize their employment. Let them take tests as well.

[mikejames697]

12:38 AM on 04/28/2012

"Our politicians do lots of cocaine. We subsidize their employment. Let them take tests as well." Could NOT agree more!

[anchor1234]

05:08 PM on 02/08/2012

WHAT is the matter with you people objecting to this ?!! Hello! You have to take a drug test to get a JOB....if welfare is their "job" why shouldn't they be tested? Only makes sense! Have you heard of that? SENSE?

[atdepth]

09:55 AM on 02/12/2012

What is wrong with you? Re-read why the judge halted the testing. After doing that, learn to respect your fellow Americans, even if they are in different circumstances than you.

[SithWillRiseAgain]

11:03 AM on 03/31/2012

These are tr o l ls. Don't respond.

[Oopstoo]

03:38 PM on 02/06/2012

Why not have them get an education too! If you can't work, at least get a high school education. And make it manditory!

[JayLikeBirds]

02:12 AM on 02/08/2012

Sucker!

[Randy Chidester]

06:21 PM on 02/05/2012

I saw the clip ,it was hilarious. Governor Scott 'Moonbeam" was not happy.

[YIRMASTER]

01:32 PM on 02/05/2012

I don't see anything wrong with the drug testing and there is no unreasonable search and seizures.

"IF YOU WANT THE FREE MONEY FOR DOING NOTHING", then PEE IN THE CUP!!!

It IS also an OPTION, "IF" you want the free money then Pee in the cup.

This is welfare after all and most recipients tend to be on it for the long term knowingly abusing the system, collecting the money because it's easier than getting a job and WORKING.

A lot of single mothers are collecting welfare who have their boyfriends living with them in violation of the rules to qualify since the additional income would disqualify them.

No culture war, anyone who opens their eyes and has half a brain can see the abuses.

Ask any realtor and they have seen the section 8 and welfare abuses. I had a lady tell me one time she didn't like where she was staying but the housing authority wouldn't give her approval to move like she wanted because there was no good reason to and there was nothing wrong with her accommodations so she bought a bunch of cockroaches and mice to the apartment building and released them along with several other tenants in order to get their upgraded accommodations once the building was found unsuitable. Talk about dreads of society and such leeches, they all found this funny, she even kept the newspaper clipping bragging how she got this story in the paper. Disgusting, this happened in Edison, NJ.

[DemocraticVoter]

02:16 PM on 02/05/2012

If you want to drive on the interstate highways -- then pee in a cup.

[fbrillo]

04:44 PM on 02/05/2012

All fine and dandy...but you have to pay to pee in that cup...and who's wife owns one of the labs that will be doing the testing????

The same one that cheated the government out of $13B worth of fraudulent medicare charges...

[fbrillo]

04:48 PM on 02/05/2012

Not only do you have to pay to pee in that cup first...what happens if you dont have a car..and have to take city buses across town...perhaps a 2 or 3 hour trip...then have to pay the $30 for the test...all because someone wants to make sure you arent going to spend the money on drugs...

RACISM...CLASS WAREFARE...

All in the same way that the Florida legislature disenfranchised the poor voters... Even though there are almost zero voter fraud convictions in Florida...we now have a law that says you must produce a government issued ID card. Not always an easy task for people that dont own property or dont drive a car...

Disenfranchisement Plain and Simple...

[Areo123]

05:19 PM on 02/05/2012

I agree with parts of what you said. The money is coming from taxes paid by people that work. So I agree that if you are not working and getting free money, you should be drug tested. This is a program setup by the government to help people and there should be stipulations on how the money is spent. I also feel that buying junk food with government money is wrong and I agree with adding additional stipulations to food stamps. It is a preventative measure so that the government doesn't have to pay additional health costs by promoting healthier eating habits. Every person on welfare has a different and unique situation and needs to be looked at individually. I do understand that single mother's have a very hard time paying for themselves and their child even if they are working full time or overtime and this program is there to help. It is hard to pay for one person working over 50 hours at a minimum wage job.
However, I do feel that you are being unfair and stereotypical in saying that the majority of people abuse the system. I believe it is a lot harder to get ahead when your starting on the bottom.
And as far as the politics, maybe we should have them pee in a cup too. They are making all of the decisions for everyone else better make sure there not high while doing it.

[BrandyWine25]

01:16 PM on 02/06/2012

Well, if we're going to stipulate exactly what products can be purchased with food stamps and force recipients to 'pee in the cup' to receive their checks, then who's to stop state governments from opening up a Wal-Mart for welfare recipients. Get your drug test and mandated groceries in a one-stop-shop! They can call it Welfare-Mart.

[ryanwi]

12:59 PM on 02/05/2012

Shouldn't this story have a direct link to the Newt story on Culture Wars?

[William Luedtke]

07:44 AM on 02/12/2012

no

[aculin]

11:40 AM on 02/05/2012

I live in Florida. I believe it is a great idea for pleople on welfare to be monitored as to were they spend the money they are receiving. Doing drug testing is to their own befit. Drugs aid people in denial and any assistance in helping them to deal with their issues is a gift.

[stealur]

11:49 AM on 02/05/2012

Then you pay for it.

[aculin]

12:05 PM on 02/05/2012

we are all paying for welfare. let try supporting people to better themseves

[aculin]

02:45 PM on 02/05/2012

Don't care to be a part of the anger. so sorry for you all

[DemocraticVoter]

11:53 AM on 02/05/2012

Anyone who drives on highways should be drug tested too -- it is a gift.

[aculin]

12:04 PM on 02/05/2012

Taxes go to welfare. you pay for your own driving rights.

[NovemberScorp]

01:26 PM on 02/05/2012

Especially here in Florida ... a prime example ... my neighbor in Fort Lauderdale has macular degeneration of the eye. Can't see worth 2 cents. Drives no less. When asked why he is still driving, his reply ... "Well I steer and my wife is my eyes." To which I called his opthamologist and on his appointment two days later, he was told not to drive. I further told him I'd report him to the DMV if I saw so much as the car backing out of the driveway. And then offered to take them shopping, doctors appointments, etc.

[whosallen]

11:39 AM on 02/05/2012

Florida loses $200,000 (and a yet to be dtermined amount to fight the case in court). Rick Scott and his cronies & clinics make a bundle off the bogus tests that prove Rick Scott lied to get the legislation passed. Florida's needy are subjected to an unfounded privacy invasion, and humilitation. Gosh - I just love the nut cases that run some of our states! And yet the voters of Florida, Arizona, Indianna, Wisconsin, , Michigan, etc. continue to let these yahoos play in their state? I do not care if a polititian is a Republican or a Democrat - when they violate the public trust (lying, cheating, stealing) they have to go.

[dukeofshrooms]

04:24 AM on 02/10/2012

Well said!

This seems to be a large part of the problem, politicians getting wealthy by capitalizing on fraudulent problems... Reminds me of the old Gas Station Mechanic making up fraudulent repairs... "Looks like your gonna need a new radiator hose, good thing I caught it!" ...and it's akin to insider trading,..

I do not understand why people are so eager to forfeit their hard earned rights and liberties directly by agreeing to submit to unnecessary drug tests or indirectly by insisting others submit. I can only assume they are ignorant of their rights and what they have to loose by submitting and voluntarily forfeiting them.

[timpoleman]

11:49 AM on 03/19/2012

Obama lost $80 Billion to Solar/Green companies, so I guess we should never invest in another solar company again, right? The economic brainiacs at the White House created Cash for Clunkers, that cost taxpayers $3 billion - or $24,000 per car sold - and in doing so, raised the prices of used vehicles close to $2000 on average for the middle class. Absolute brilliance. And why do you assume that it is ' an invasion of privacy" & 'humiliating' to take a drug test. It's very common in our society for most job applicants.