A perfect scam

Of course, he says he's doing it "for the taxpayers" but a look at the policy reveals FL Gov. Scott's new drug testing law is a scam designed to enrich his corporate friends in the health care industry.

Under the law, which takes effect on July 1, the Florida Department of Children and Family Services will be required to conduct the drug tests on adults applying to the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The aid recipients would be responsible for the cost of the screening, which they would recoup in their assistance if they qualify.

Those who fail the required drug testing may designate another individual to receive the benefits on behalf of their children, and do not receive a refund for the test.

Putting aside the vicious and largely false stereotyping of welfare mothers as drug addicts, this will cause immediate harm to poor children when their parents have to fork over money for the tests that then won't be available for necessities in households that already live hand to mouth. As for saving the taxpayers money, administering the paperwork on the tests and the reimbursements will not only cost more in overhead but will bleed money from the program that could be used for benefits instead.

Much has been made of Scott's connection to walk-in clinics that do drug testing. However, he claims his company won't be doing any of the work and further states he's in the process of selling off his family interest in the corporation altogether.

Well and good, but has anyone ever heard of secret kickbacks? Nearly impossible to prove, but with millions to be made on this scam and Scott's own shady history of being convicted of fraud related to his health care business interests, it's not much of a stretch to imagine such an arrangement exists.

It certainly would explain why he's gone so drug test crazy. You'll recall he recently signed another law requiring random testing of all public employees. Another unneccessary program since one assumes any employee where public safety is an issue, already is drug tested and where safety isn't an issue it will pour tax dollars into a private industry without requiring any reasonable evidence of drug abuse. How does this expense make any sense at a time when vital public employees are already being laid off for lack of funds?

Like every single Republican policy enacted since the sweep of 2010, the long term effect will be to further weaken our already struggling economy. Which has been the GOP's publicly stated game plan from the day Obama was inaugurated.

[More posts daily at the Detroit News.]