[Tallahassee, FL] Yesterday, Gov. Rick Scott was blindsided during a press conference for his 2012-2013 budget proposal by a correspondent from The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, a popular political-news-talk cable show on Comedy Central.

Aasif Mandvi stood up and asked Scott that since he benefits from taxpayer dollars, would he pee in a cup to prove that he is not on drugs.

Scott’s response was that he has many times. Huh?

The governor was clearly not amused. When he attempted to move on to another question, his answer was a series of starts, stops and stumbles. Mandvi’s prank question has obviously taken him off his game.

The whole pee in a cup stunt was an obvious commentary on Scott’s controversial insistence on drug testing welfare recipients, a program which has been temporarily halted by a judge. A similar bill was proposed recently by a Florida Congressman to test those receiving unemployment benefits, which made the bit that more timely.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

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pee in a cup

[Orlando, FL] A federal judge in Orlando has put a stop – at least temporarily – to Gov. Rick Scott‘s highly touted (and highly controversial) requirement that those seeking cash assistance from the state take a drug test at their own expense.

On Monday, Judge Mary Scriven issued the ruling based on her opinion that the new law may be a violation of the Constitution’s ban on unreasonable searches and seizures, according to a report by The Huffington Post. The judge will hold a full hearing on the law, but until then – the tests will not be required.

“This potential interception of positive drug tests by law enforcement implicates a ‘far more substantial’ invasion of privacy than in ordinary civil drug testing cases,” said Scriven, an appointee of President George W. Bush.

Gov. Scott’s office, which touted huge savings and a moral triumph from the welfare reform law, cannot be pleased.

“The governor obviously disagrees with the decision and he will evaluate his options regarding when to appeal,” Scott spokesperson Jackie Schutz was quoted as saying by The Huffington Post.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate Images

Resource: The Huffington Post

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Unreasonable drug testing  Rick Scott, who promoted the ill-advised tests, backs off the policy before more money is wasted defending it in court. The judge temporarily suspended the drug testing requirement, faulting the fact that results lack confidentiality and noting that …

Michael Mayo: Judge makes right call in halting Florida welfare drug testing Rick Scott (a lawyer) from pushing the program and the lawmakers in the Legislature from approving it earlier this year. The program, which began July 1, was particularly mean-spirited in requiring welfare applicants to pay for their own drug tests up …

Tell ‘Hot Button’ what you think about drug-testing welfare recipients A federal judge has temporarily blocked enforcement of a new law in Florida that requires recipients of welfare benefits to pass a drug test. The judge said the law may violate the US Constitution’s ban on unreasonable searches and seizures. …