Arkansas Unemployment Drug Testing Bill Passes State Senate (Cross-Post)

[sinkingfeeling]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/09/arkansas-senate-passes-un_n_3041231.html


LITTLE ROCK, Ark, April 8 (Reuters) - The Republican-led Arkansas state Senate approved a measure on Monday that would require random drug testing of Arkansas residents who receive state unemployment benefits - a plan that the state's Democratic governor said could violate federal law.

If the measure becomes law, those seeking unemployment benefits would have to sign a waiver and allow for random drug testing. Those who refuse to sign or who test positive for drugs would not be entitled to benefits.

Rita Sklar, director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas, said the group plans to fight the measure if it becomes law. Governor Mike Beebe, a Democrat, also has issues with the bill.

"We have concerns about whether the bill will put us in violation of the federal unemployment laws administered by the U.S. Department of Labor," said Matt DeCample, Beebe's spokesman. "There are also continued concerns as to whether the cost of implementing such a program would produce any real savings in offset." (Reporting by Suzi Parker; Editing by Mary Wisniewski, Cynthia Johnston and Vicki Allen)

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Don't you just love the 'freedom-loving' Republicans? All they know to do is follow the ALEC agenda.

[Newest Reality]

1. Does Arkansas

want to be a poster child for giving the middle finger to the entire country?

Are they trying to give us a picture of where ALEC will be taking us all, like it or not?

Yes, they seem to subscribe to the "freedom is slavery" meme that has been deeply embedded into their notions of liberty and justice, but is there some way that we can assure them that no matter how much kochery they breast-feed on and no matter how much ALECism wafers they consume at the altar of Fortune 500, we don't want to join that cult and any of us that have been members are starting to deprogram and leave the faith?

Oh, and congratulations to the rather important and fortunate company who is awarded the testing contract and will be sticking their parasitic promiscuous into the jugular vein of the Arkansas tax payers. You can almost hear the sucking sound already.