(Update) Frank Antenori’s war on the poor – the sequel

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I previously posted about Frank Antenori's war on the poor – the sequel:

Last session, SB1380, a bill to require random drug testing for recipients of food stamps and welfare programs was sponsored by Sen. "Don't make me angry" Frank Antenori, R-Tucson. It passed the Senate with unanimous Republican support but died in the House.

Antenori is promising to scare the villagers again in January by bringing back his bill to stigmatize and to scapegoat the poor. Proposal to drug-test welfare recipients faces financial, constitutional hurdles – Arizona Capitol Times.

I cited a study from Florida that disproved the far right-wing's fantasy that everyone on government assistance is just paying for thir drug habit. Now comes another study from Florida supporting the earlier study. Few seeking welfare in Fla. on drugs:

Preliminary figures on a new Florida law requiring drug tests for welfare applicants show that they are less likely than other people to use drugs, not more. One famous Floridian suggests that it's the people who came up with the law who should be submitting specimens.

Columnist and best-selling author Carl Hiaasen offered to pay for drug testing for all 160 members of the Florida Legislature in what he called "a patriotic whiz-fest."

* * *

"Folks that are applying for DCF (Department of Children and Families) money normally wouldn't be standing in that line, and on top of that humiliation they now get to pee in a cup so they can get grocery money for their kids," Hiaasen said.

I suggested drug testing legislators who vote for this "big brother" invasive bill in my earlier post. I only wish that I had come up with this "patriotic whiz-fest" idea.

Preliminary figures show that about 2.5 percent of up to 2,000 applicants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families have tested positive since the law went into effect in July. Another 2 percent declined to take the test, Department of Children and Families officials say.

The Justice Department estimates that 6 percent of Americans 12 and older use illegal drugs.

The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging the law, saying it violates welfare applicants' constitutional right against unreasonable searches. A federal appellate court struck down a similar Michigan law in 2003.

Ah, but you see, nothing makes Tea-Publicans happier than hippie-punching poor people for their misfortune of being poor. It makes them feel superior and gives meaning to their life.