CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV/AP) - One of North Carolina's top political leaders plans to meet with residents days after announcing he favors random drug testing for people who receive public assistance and maybe state employees.
Speaker of the House Thom Tillis told a Town Hall gathering at Mars Hill College that he would push to drug test people who get public aid if Republicans remain in power after the 2012 elections
"I don't know if we'll go as far as Florida, but if you're receiving government assistance, and every once in a while we want to do random drug tests on a fair basis, I think we should do it," said Tillis to the crowd. Applause followed his remarks.
Currently, Florida is the only state to require drug testing. The law started to be enforced three months ago.
So far, more than 7,000 welfare applicants passed, 32 people failed the test, and nearly 1600 refused to take it.
Supporters of the law say maybe those people knew they would fail. Opponents say maybe they couldn't afford the $35 dollar fee, which is re-reimbursed if applicants pass the test.
It's unclear how much Florida will save. Governor Rick Scott has said the law would bring $77 million in savings.
Others argue the cost of re-imbursements and legal feels will cost the state more.
The ACLU is suing Florida and already putting pressure on Tillis here to back off. The group said, drug testing is not only "a violation of an individual's constitutional rights, but notoriously ineffective."
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