Oklahoma Lawmakers Propose Drug Testing For Politicians

Lawmakers in Oklahoma are attempting to pass a bill that would require politicians in the state to undergo random drug testing. The law would put politicians in line with a new law that would require poor people to be drug tested when attempting to receive public assistance.

The drug testing bill has already passed through the Oklahoma House with an 82-6 vote and will now move to the state Senate.

Under the bill applicants to the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program will need to undergo drug screening to receive benefits while an amendment to the bill would require politicians to undergo the same testing.

The amendment arrives after Democrats in the state chided Republican colleagues for singling out the poor for drug testing. Democrats added the amendment as a way to more evenly balance the rights of all citizens in the state.

If the bill passes and the amendment remains in place anyone seeking local or state office will be required to pass a drug test within 15 days of filing their candidacy papers.

The bill was sponsored by Republican Guy Liebman of Oklahoma City however he attempted to eliminate the amendment while his motion was defeated in a 68-12 bipartisan vote.

Oklahoma isn’t the first state to go after welfare recipients via random drug tests, Utah, Georgia, Florida and Michigan have all publicly announced bills while those laws have already passed the Utah Legislature and Georgia’s state senate.

Do you think requiring politicians to undergo drug testing is a smart decision that will help welfare drug testing become more accepted or is it just a smoke and mirrors maneuver by savvy Oklahoma politicians?

[via ShutterStock.com]