Pubdate: Sat, 24 Mar 2012
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2012 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Lynn Bartells
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

OFFICIALS GET IN LINE BEHIND DRUG TESTS

Amended Welfare Bill Also Applies to Them

A bill that requires welfare recipients to undergo drug testing was 
amended Friday to require that statewide elected officials also pee in a cup.

The constitutional officers - governor, lieutenant governor, attorney 
general, secretary of state and treasurer - and all 100 lawmakers 
would have to pay for their annual drug tests.

House Minority Leader Mark Ferrandino said that drug testing welfare 
recipients but not other groups of people who benefit from government 
money is unfair.

"It shouldn't apply to just the poorest and the most vulnerable 
population," said Ferrandino, a Denver Democrat.

Under House Bill 12-1046, those applying for assistance through the 
Colorado Works program must pass a drug test prior to receiving assistance.

The bill was heard Friday by the House Appropriations Committee, 
which passed it onto the full House on a 7-6 party-line vote, with 
seven Republicans in favor and six Democrats opposed.

But all committee members voted for Ferrandino's amendment to include 
testing of statewide officials.

"I don't think we should be held to any different standard," said 
Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland. "If we're going to go to these 
people with a straight face and say, 'Look, you have to abide by 
these laws,' we should be held to the same standard."

On the lighter side, Ferrandino handed out faux pee cups to committee 
members that included their pictures, and he changed the name of the 
committee to "Appropeeations."

Ferrandino told the committee that other states that have implemented 
the same requirement have spent "significant amounts of money with no 
direct benefit to the state."

"I have a lot of concerns with this bill," Ferrandino said. "We are 
spending money we don't have."

Ferrandino later said he would like to expand the testing so anyone 
who receives government funds, including "corporate welfare," be 
required to undergo the same testing as welfare recipients.

The bill's House sponsor, Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling, said he 
he isn't sure who Ferrandino is referring to when he brings up 
"corporate welfare."

In pushing his bill, Sonnenberg has asked, "If you can spend money on 
drugs, why do you need the government's check?"

Under HB 1046, co-sponsored by Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, welfare 
applicants would be reimbursed the cost of the $45 drug test if they 
pass it. Those who fail, though, would be denied reimbursement and 
any benefits and could not reapply for a year. Those who fail a 
second time wouldn't be eligible to reapply for three years.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom