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Oklahoma May Drug Test Would-Be Politicians

Amendment tacked onto welfare recipient bill

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 13, 2012 2:07 PM CDT

(Newser) – Oklahoma Republicans want welfare recipients to pass a drug test before receiving public assistance—and the state's politicians may be subjected to the same requirement before seeking office. Democratic legislators, irked by the original Republican-sponsored welfare drug test bill, added an amendment that would require would-be politicians to also submit to drug testing, and the bill passed the state House 82-6 yesterday. It's headed to the state Senate, Reuters reports.

If it passes, anyone running for local or state public office will be required to certify they passed a drug test within 15 days of filing candidacy paperwork. The bill's sponsor attempted to get the amendment eliminated, but that motion was defeated. Quite a few other states are considering similar welfare drug tests.

Politicians in Oklahoma may soon have to submit to drug tests.
Politicians in Oklahoma may soon have to submit to drug tests.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 51 comments
professortech
Mar 14, 2012 11:01 AM CDT
Quick... Ron Paul, Newt, Santorum, Mitt Big government is violating my personal privacy and autonomy. To para[phrase the NRA "You'll have to squeeze my urine from my cold, dead bladder!"
Riffran
Mar 14, 2012 3:38 AM CDT
Sounds good to me, include random current  politician screening as well.  ANYBODY with that much responsibility should be tested.  As jacked up as our political system is right now, the last thing we need is a bunch of drug addled idiots in power  
truesoy
Mar 13, 2012 9:45 PM CDT
Republicans are the next best thing to communism, but they'll tell you otherwise. And we better run for the hills if the republicans win this election, honestly. Hopefully we'll be wiser. Sincerely, Truesoy
 

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