The Evening Brief: Texas Headlines for Nov. 13, 2012
New in The Texas Tribune:
• Perry, Dewhurst Back Drug Testing for Welfare Applicants: "Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Tuesday expressed support for a bill that would require welfare applicants to take drug tests. Critics of the bill say it needlessly targets poor people."
• Interactive: Bill Tracker for the 83rd Session: Bill filing for the 83rd legislative session kicked off on Monday, and lawmakers filed more than 250 bills on the first day alone. The Tribune has retooled last session's bill tracker and put it to work, pulling in all the legislation that's been filed ...
Comments (32)
Elaine Dennis Adkison via Texas Tribune on Facebook
hey Rick, let's start with YOU! And, how much kickback will you get from the company pushing this to get the contract?
Cody Matthew London via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Hey Rick how about actually nullifying drug laws first?!?!?!?! Instead of missing around with class warfare BS.
Lee Dunkelberg via Texas Tribune on Facebook
GOP renews its War on Women. This measure gets extra points because it targets poor women.
This will do nothing to save Texas tax dollars, just the opposite. It's only meant to feather campaign nests.
David Huang via Texas Tribune on Facebook
And so it begins...
Julie Joffee Covey via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Oh, Rick, you're such a dork. What are you going to do to prevent prescription drug abuse?
Kirk Garner via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Limited government, huh Rick? Freedom and Liberty and all that?
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Here comes some more ALEC legislation for you.
Steve Cook via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I say do it. What is there to lose? If in a few years there is no savings as stated then we remove the law.. But if it does then good for us we keep it. I happen to know atleast a dozen families that will be effected by this.. So far I see a savings..Not to mention most of the people whos taxes goes to these programs had to pass a Drug test to be able to work to pay the taxes its only fair..
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Rick Scott did this and it was not cost effective.
Judy Burns via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Failed in Florida-huge cost-practically no violations found.
Matthew J Christensen via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I just love everyone on here. Limited Government? Conservatives love limited government but we sure as heck aren't going to hand money to just anyone, especially those wasting money on drugs.
John Cobarruvias via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This will help tax dollars going into the pockets of drug testers.
Elaine Dennis Adkison via Texas Tribune on Facebook
In fact, it cost way more to test than was saved. But by all means, lets spend money on that instead of health care!
John Cobarruvias via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It is a stupid bill for stupid people who will not look at statistics that prove this is a stupid idea. But that is why Perry proposed it. Texans are pretty much a stupid set of people.
Danny Jensen via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I say same holds true on anyone who receives a state pension.
Rachel Elsberry via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Waste of time and money
Elaine Dennis Adkison via Texas Tribune on Facebook
John, don't paint all of us with the stupid brush! Although, I realize that is hard with all the idiots we have!
Chuck Waldrep via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Why stop there,test for alcohol,cigarettes,pork,salt,free thinking?
Danny Jones via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Then also drug test all state employees, including the legislature.
Samdavis
Don't know about drugs but there's obviously a lot of dope in the state government.
Adrian D. Riojas via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What a moron. I say again.
Mary Sloan Hightower via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Single mothers with small children, is this really a problem? This nonsense would waste more tax dollars. Any helpful, productive initiatives in store? Then at least do no harm until you leave. :/
Bill Eaves via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It's worked well in FL & OK passed the same bill, get it done this year....
Mary Sloan Hightower via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This is ironic since tax dollars paid for his $10,000 per month temporary mansion for years. How arrogant and idiotic, can we all agree to vote this guy out?
Valerie Purcell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
From the north, lived in Arkansas 1 yr growing up, and now in Texass for 11 yrs - and these are some of THE most willfully ignorant dumassses and damn proud of it I have ever worked & lived with.
Mary Warren via Texas Tribune on Facebook
too late for that! Look in the mirror, Perry!
Juan Nava via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Let's Spend more of the tax payer money Ricky! Let's just add to the $6 million dollars you have already spent on testing Texas High School athletes for steroids. In recent years, of the over 50,000 athletes tested only 21 students have tested positive for steroids. That is .04% testing positive. I know your friends at Texas Drug and Alcohol Testing are pro testing.
Scott Nicol via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Florida tried drug testing recipients of state aid. They stopped when they realized that only a tiny percent tested positive and it cost the state more than it saved. Perry's an idiot.
Carol Soules via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If they test welfare recipients because they don't want "tax dollars going into the pockets of drug abusers," they should also test government employees. Lord knows Perry would be screwed. Remember http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0qlC6fMmhE ?
Gordon Farquhar via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Texas gave away $32 billion in tax breaks in the past two years. That's a lot more than what goes toward "welfare" or "unemployment." We should require drug tests for tax breaks. A hand out is a hand out.
John Blodgett via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I guess this means that extremely poor welfare recipients are funding the massive drug and violence influx from Mexico. Is there an Idiot Test we can require Perry and his colleagues take? Never-mind, that would be a real waste of money.
Billy Riddle via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Excuse my french, but Fuck Perry. As a Republican, I am sick of his corruption, cronyism and idiocy.