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Bluelight Crew
Columbus -- A Democratic state lawmaker is drafting legislation that would require drug and alcohol testing of statewide elected officials and members of a new private nonprofit that will be handling Ohio's economic development programs.
Rep. Bob Hagan, from Youngstown, said the bill is in response to Republican-backed legislation requiring comparable testing of Ohioans who receive food stamps and other public assistance.
"We certainly get public assistance -- we get health care, we get pension benefits, certainly much more than any of those public assistance recipients," Hagan said of himself and his fellow office-holders.
The bill, which has not yet been introduced, would require drug testing of state lawmakers, the governor, the secretary of state, the state auditor and treasurer, Supreme Court justices and members of JobsOhio.
Those public officials would have to pay for the testing. Those found with illegal substances in their bodies at the time of testing could be subject to removal from office, among other consequences.
"It is hypocritical to demand that the average Ohioan and working poor should be held to a higher standard than the political elite in this state," Hagan said in a released statement. "Substance abuse is substance abuse, and receiving tax dollars is receiving tax dollars. It shouldn't matter who you are."
http://www.hudsonhubtimes.com/news/article/5090470
Rep. Bob Hagan, from Youngstown, said the bill is in response to Republican-backed legislation requiring comparable testing of Ohioans who receive food stamps and other public assistance.
"We certainly get public assistance -- we get health care, we get pension benefits, certainly much more than any of those public assistance recipients," Hagan said of himself and his fellow office-holders.
The bill, which has not yet been introduced, would require drug testing of state lawmakers, the governor, the secretary of state, the state auditor and treasurer, Supreme Court justices and members of JobsOhio.
Those public officials would have to pay for the testing. Those found with illegal substances in their bodies at the time of testing could be subject to removal from office, among other consequences.
"It is hypocritical to demand that the average Ohioan and working poor should be held to a higher standard than the political elite in this state," Hagan said in a released statement. "Substance abuse is substance abuse, and receiving tax dollars is receiving tax dollars. It shouldn't matter who you are."
http://www.hudsonhubtimes.com/news/article/5090470
