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Raise the curtain.

By The Gallon

By JGillman, Section News
Posted on Thu May 09, 2013 at 02:32:21 PM EST
Tags: Michigan, Drug Testing, Welfare, Cronyism, Blow, Taxpayers, MEDC, Strategic Fund, HB 4610, Tom McMillin (all tags)

By far one of the most expensive pursuits Michigan taxpayers will ever have to pay, could be purchased by the gallon.

Or at least it could be if Michigan State Representative Tom McMillin has his way. McMillin has proposed legislation that ties any money taken from taxpayers for economic development or grants to a requirement of drug testing for principle recipients. Adding and amending this language:

Sec. 15. Beginning October 1, 2013, the fund shall establish requirements to ensure that any recipient of funds, including a loan, a grant, or funding or other assistance for a project,submits to and tests negative for substance abuse under a substance abuse testing program prescribed by the fund. As used in this section, any recipient who is not an individual includes all of the following:

(a) For a corporation, the president and the chief executive officer, and each managerial employee who directly reports to the president or chief executive officer.

(b) For a partnership, all partners and each managerial employee who directly reports to a partner.

(c) For a limited partnership, the general and limited partners and each managerial employee who directly reports to a general or limited partner.

(d) For a limited liability company, all members and each managerial employee who directly reports to a member.

to the "Michigan strategic fund act," it places a realistic requirement that the corporate weasels who take strategic fund dollars are not just going to blow it all on .. well ..Blow.

Certainly no hotel room baked concoctions for these connoisseurs of the finest taxpayer largess. We aren't talking of a few misplaced bags of medicinal scratch, or toilet bowl punch either. But the good stuff that can only be bought with the type of green that is doled out by the news conference.

And THAT GUY was gonna party.

~ Continued below ~

HB 4610, though unlikely to make it past the undertaker of the commerce committee does have the requirement that other legislation is passed to become effective as well. It adds:

"Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect only if a law is enacted in this state that requires recipients to be tested for substance abuse as a condition of receiving family independence program assistance as defined in section 57(1)(e) of the social welfare act, 1939 PA 280, MCL 400.57."

at the end.

At least he is fair.

Can you picture it if this would have been in place a few years ago, and WITHOUT THAT PROVISION?

A123 Exec #1: Hey guys.. kinda boring around here.. wanna light up a fatty?
A123 Exec #2: Duuuuuude ...
A123 Exec #3: I dunno mang, aren't we supposed to go and fill the cup later?
A123 Exec #1: I guess. Dang, why is it we always get the tests and those low life welfare queens can blunt away? Life isn't fair man.

Yeah. No. Its not.

Especially when Michigan taxpayers are forced to pay for cronyism that could only be reasonably dreamed up in a pharmaceutical based psychosis. At least without intent to steal.

Especially when the truly needy are the people who bust their rears day in and day out just to pay for for an ever increasing reach of government; one that rewards sloth, and encourages financial based political patronage.

Drugs are bad MMMM-K?

Hallucinogenics can wreck lives. But even worse is the drug of choice for a politically connected class of parasites that use tools like pure Michigan, and the strategic fund, and all manner of grants that are crafted as political rewards for the connected class. Worse because it presents a view of government that is unlimited in the scope of its generosity without the sobering reality that the generosity must be paid back in some way; yet not by the recipients.

Its not too much to drug test every grant writer, corporatist, welfare recipient, and frankly employee if they are receiving anything from Michigan Taxpayers.

Call Frank Foster.

Tell him to support McMillin's Bill, and that you want people to get off our grass. .. err .. lawn

< And WHOM Runs The Michigan Treasury? | Why not $20 or $50 an Hour? >

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By The Gallon | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)

to be clear (none / 0) (#1)
by Tom McMillin on Thu May 09, 2013 at 09:37:27 PM EST

To be clear - I don't think drug testing citizens is a proper role of government - however, IF the state is going to drug test social welfare recipient, it is only fair that it tests corporate welfare recipients (which is why i tacked on "this doesn't take effect unless the state drug tests social welfare recipients" to the end of the bill)

I figured that. by JGillman, 05/09/2013 09:54:34 PM EST (none / 0)

I understand the logic behind Rep. McMillin's bill (none / 0) (#3)
by KG One on Sat May 11, 2013 at 11:26:35 AM EST

But I am still at a loss as to how this,

I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.
I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.
I BELIEVE the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations, and that the best government is that which governs least.

in any conceivable way jives with stealing money from my paycheck in order to hand it over to the politically well-connected?

I'd be happier if there were a bill introduced (hint hint) requiring specific citation from the Michigan Constitution authorizing ANY appropriation.

No citation, no spending.