Drug testing for Floridians on welfare passes in Florida House

Tallahassee

• Rebecca Wainright
• Jeff Brandes

Backing a measure supported by Governor Rick Scott, the Florida House Tuesday night passed a bill that will require Floridians applying for welfare benefits to take and pay for drug tests.

The bill was easily approved, 78 to 38, with one of its sponsors, Inverness Representative Jimmie Smith, insisting it was all about helping out the the state's poorest children.

House Democrats hammered Smith about his bill during the questions part of the formal debate before the final vote. St. Pete Representative Darryl Rouson flat out asked Smith if he believed his bill discriminated against the poor and minorities — Smith said it did not.

This article appears in Apr 21-27, 2011.