Commentary on current events, politics, government, and popular culture from John Sheirer, author of the book, Make Common Sense Common Again.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The Definiton of "Unreasonable"

Republicans in Florida just created a law calling for random drug testing of state employees. As a state employee (in Connecticut) I have some words for Florida Republicans. I won't spell them out because I'm a polite person, but the initials are "f.y." Also, there's this annoying little thing called the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
Can someone please tell me the "probable cause" for suspecting that state employees are on drugs? This law is completely unconstitutional at the most basic level.
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Update: One day after the governor signed it into law, the drug testing of state workers in Florida has already been suspended because of legal challenges to its constitutionality.
Update 2: The law has been struck down in federal court.
The law doesn't help with job creation, it would actually cost the state money rather than reduce the budget, and it unfairly singles out a group of citizens as targets of discrimination. Yep, that's how today's Republican Party rolls.
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1 comment:

  1. They should start with the governor and the legislators. They are, after all, state employees also.

    ReplyDelete

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