Statement by Florida Legislative Black Caucus Chair Arthenia Joyner on governor’s decision to challenge latest drug testing ruling
By Miriam Marlow
TALLAHASSEE, FL – State Senator Arthenia Joyner (D-Tampa), Chair of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus released the following statement on Tuesday (Feb. 26, 2013) following the announcement by Republican Governor Rick Scott that he will appeal his latest court loss on mandatory drug testing of welfare recipients:
“Since first arriving in the governor’s mansion, Governor Scott has consistently misinterpreted his role as head of the executive branch as that of head of his own personal corporation. For a so-called conservative Republican who continues to preach the dogma of “smaller government and less government spending” he appears to have no problem with continuously reaching into taxpayers’ pockets to spend their money when things don’t go his way.
“There is a deeply troubling aspect to his decision today to appeal his latest court setback: the mindset that somehow those needing emergency financial help from the government to feed their children are more prone to drug use than the general population. Other than a right wing think tank that continues to harp on this prejudicial notion, there is no credible evidence to suggest that the governor’s position is correct, including from his own agency which oversees the TANF program. And, before it was stopped, the program was actually costing tax-payers, not saving them any money.
“Rather than throw good money after bad in a futile attempt to assert his wrongheaded policies, I urge Governor Scott to do what he promised the people: create jobs. The kind of good-paying jobs so that families are no longer forced to turn to government for emergency assistance.”
