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Newsbrief:
Federal
Court
Upholds
Drug
Tests
for
Welfare
Recipients
10/25/02
The US 6th Circuit Court
of Appeals in Cincinnati upheld the state of Michigan's use of mandatory
drug testing of welfare recipients in an opinion issued October 18.
Michigan welfare officials had attempted to implement welfare drug testing
three years ago, but after the Michigan ACLU challenged the plan in court,
US District Judge Victoria Roberts issued a temporary injunction blocking
it in November 1999.
A three-judge appeals court
panel -- all appointed by former President George Bush -- ruled that random
drug testing of welfare recipients is a justifiable method of protecting
children, the public, and tax dollars from abuse. It further held
that the state can deny benefits to anyone who tests positive for illegal
drugs.
Michigan politicians and
bureaucrats were happy, the Detroit Free Press reported. Gov. John
Engler (R-MI) hailed the ruling, saying "testing and treatment for welfare
recipients for drug use is consistent with our goal of helping them reach
true self-sufficiency." And both candidates to replace Engler, Democratic
Attorney General Jennifer Granholm and Republican Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus
said they would implement the program if elected. Granholm had earlier
called the program "degrading and humiliating," but has had a change of
heart in the heat of the campaign.
The Michigan ACLU was not
so pleased. "Our concern is that this can really open up the door
to uncontrolled government surveillance in every aspect of our lives,"
said the group's Mary Moss. "What about students who take out student
loans or taxpayers who take deductions?" Moss said the group would
appeal. "We see the Fourth Amendment being whittled away," she said.
The court's opinion may be
viewed online at:
http://pacer.ca6.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/getopn.pl?OPINION=02a0367p.06
-- END --
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Issue #260, 10/25/02
Antiprohibitionists Meet at European Parliament in Brussels | Vigilante Drug Bust in Arizona Opens Window into World of Hurt on Mexican Border | Election 2002:00:00 Governor's Races of Interest | Smoke Dope to Fight Chemical Warfare Attacks? Israeli Activists Say Check It Out | This Week's Cop Corruption Story: Two Texas Villarreals | Newsbrief: Federal Court Upholds Drug Tests for Welfare Recipients | Newsbrief: Bill to Ban Salvia Divinorum Introduced | Newsbrief: In Ecuador, Plan Colombia Foe Appears Headed for Presidency | Newsbrief: Feds to Prosecute Ayahuasca Case | Newsbrief: Baltimore Killings Bring More of the Same Old Policies | Newsbrief: Richmond, Virginia Drug Sweep Underway | Newsbrief: Massachusetts Reform Advocates Release Decrim Study as Elections Near | Newsbrief: Oklahoma Uses Civil Suits in War on Meth | Newsbrief: U Missouri SSDP, NORML in Marijuana Petition Drive | Newsbrief: Ontario Court Authorizes Crackdown on Marijuana Growers | Quote of the Week: William Raspberry | Web Scan: DRCNet in the Media, Dan Forbes on Alternet, VoteHemp, Change the Climate, Journey for Justice, Sydney Morning Herald | Job Opportunity: PreventionWorks, Washington, DC | Errata: Polling on San Francisco Proposition S | Calling on Students to Raise Your Voices for Repeal of the HEA Drug Provision | Action Alerts: Rave Bill, Medical Marijuana, Higher Education Act Drug Provision | The Reformer's Calendar
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