Florida of all places....

Most drug users that know they are going to be tested, ESPECIALLY the milder drug users, will avoid the substance until the test has passed. I used to work at a place that employed mostly potheads, but they drug tested, and no one ever got fired over it. I know one person that was an idiot and smoked the day of the test and had to go to treatment over it, but that's beside the point. What I'm getting at is that people will still use. It's not going to do a lot to stop them.

All the while, Rick seems to be setting up things that will make him even more wealthy in the future. Again, I'd rather see sweeping cuts to the welfare system or some major changes like required volunteer hours (oxymoronic, I know) to get a little value for the money. At that point, I wouldn't really care as much if they smoked a bit on the side, because they're now doing something other than sitting at home watching Maury, while thinking about how they're going to get on the show.

Donaldson makes an awfully good point about food stamps. We have some friends that play the system (I know, right). They get more money in food stamps than they can use in a month. They eat far better than we do, and always have things like cases of Red Bull and lots of junkfood around the house, all payed for by the food stamps program. Anyone remember the commodities program? They give you a box of food that will allow you to make good meals and generally make ends meet. I know that's a dangerous step towards bread lines, but it makes more sense than taxpayers paying for 4 cases of Red Bull a month.

Keep in mind, I don't agree with invasion of privacy that is drug testing.

But I don't even make much money and I still paid approaching $18k in payroll tax a year. So if I can't come home and take a puff after busting my ass for 11 hours a day at work, you don't get too either.

I dont think you need to go any further than that to justify drug testing.

I feel it's fully justified, but I feel he may be doing it for other reasons. My issue is with the guy doing it, not with what's being done. I just hope it ends up saving more money that it costs. If that's the case, then excellent. If it doesn't really catch anyone at all, but costs the government a great deal of money, I think I have the right to be a bit peeved off about it.

Is it wrong that I'd rather see hair testing than urine testing? I know the cost is higher, but as I understand, it can tell you that someone used drugs 6 months ago, not just a couple of weeks ago.

It's not wrong, but even I think it's bit overboard.

Again, as far as teh money, that's a gov't overhead issue. Accurate testing means are widely available and cheap.

donalson wrote: polotics aside... I still think food stamps should be limited on what you can get... I know that when our kids where on WIC we where very limited on what we could buy... I regularly see what these welfare moms buy on foodstamp day... a buggy full of chips and soda... mac n cheese and anything else that is easy to cook (or doesn't need to cook) and has a million preservatives... never anything that could even be mistaken as healthy...

Last year it was reported millions of dollars from Peoples Republic of California welfare debit type cards were used anywhere from casinos throughout the state and in Vegas to cruise ships and posh Hawaii malls. As well as used to buy lotto and cigs. Berkeley me.

z31maniac wrote: Is his budget the result of reduced tax revenues?

Yes, and we expect the situation to get worse, not better. Florida doesn't have a state income tax, and Scott promised to completely eliminate the corporate income tax as well. (although the legislature doesn't seem as willing.) http://www.politifact.com/florida/promises/scott-o-meter/promise/615/eliminate-floridas-corporate-income-tax-over-7-ye/

When are all of us going to get real about the situation and shared pain instead of continuing to toe the party line.

Excellent question. Which programs do you want cut/eliminate to stay within the smaller budget?

It's been that way for years. People who don't work in the service industry never see it.

You can't buy cigs/beer at the gas station with your card, but pull some cash and then you can!

I'd also say no name brands, only generic. And I'd agree with giving people food staples to make meals, instead of buying expensive, unhealthy pre-packed food.

JoeyM wrote: Excellent question. Which programs do you want cut/eliminate to stay within the smaller budget?

The first thing I'd want is to reform Welfare into Workfare like I previously mentioned, with drug testing. This doesn't necessarily reduce costs, but it improves the VALUE of the money we are spending.

Having worked in QT for years in high school and college, and having a lazy, mouth breathing sister with small children who was on welfare for a long time, it's always been one of my hot button issues.

Public workers pensions/retirement benefits get reduced if you are under a certain age, so that you have time to prepare for it. I know it sucks, but we simply can't afford it.

Change the way gov't is funded on a fundamental level. Por ejemplo:

If I'm the boss of "The Office of Widget Regulations" and I have my FY2010 budget is $1 million. If I say, get my job accomplished in FY2010 without using all my budget, it will be reduced for the next year.

So there is no drive to reward effeciency, only the motivation to spend every penny your given. I would want to figure out how to incentivize this.

So let's say FY2010 I only spend $850,000 of my budget. So instead of forfeiting the other $150k and losing budget allowance next year. Use a portion of the money to REWARD the hard work and effeciency in the form of a bonus. And don't remove the potential for the same amount of available funding for FY2011. This would allow for unexpected situations, that then don't have to dig into the general fund.

Small start, it's still early.

And Tulsa specific, not necessarily cutting money, but adjusting the flow into depts to beef up our police force.

Certain areas of Tulsa are rapidly devolving into crime nightmares, places where some officers won't go at all at night. We have crime and murder rates above the national average now.

Oops, I accidentally just hit the ! button on JoeyM's post on accident. That was redundantly redundant.