Fresh off his triumphant fastball he delivered Saturday at Steinbrenner Field (to a mixture of cheers and jeers), Florida Governor Rick Scott does it for real a week from Friday when he will grace the mound at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, for the April 1st Major League Baseball opener, as the American League East champion Rays host the Baltimore Orioles.
We look forward to hearing the audience's reaction to the Governor's appearance.
Meanwhile, if you're a state employee who likes to indulge in the "wacky tobaccy" in your off hours, you better come up with a plan soon.
On Tuesday, Governor Scott announced a new executive order, mandating drug tests for “all prospective new hires of agencies within the governor’s purview” and random drug tests for established employees in those offices.
“Floridians deserve to know that those in public service, whose salaries are paid with taxpayer dollars, are part of a drug-free workplace,” Scott said in a statement. “Just as it is appropriate to screen those seeking taxpayer assistance, it is also appropriate to screen government employees.”
Also today, in the Senate’s Criminal Justice Committee, Senator. Paula Dockery's bill to drug test every welfare recipient was approved, which earned praise from the Governor.
“I want to commend Senators Steve Oelrich and Paula Dockery, and Representatives Jimmie Smith and Chris Dorworth, for their hard work on this issue,” Scott said. “Today’s committee passage by the Senate of Senate Bill 556 has advanced this important policy, and I look forward to the House moving their legislation tomorrow.”
This article appears in Mar 17-23, 2011.