In copying other states, Ransone sponsored a bill that would require drug testing for applicants for unemployment benefits, the Free-Lance Star of Fredericksburg reported Saturday. Worse yet, applicants must pay for the tests themselves, in order to save the state money. Other Virginia Republicans have proposed similar bills but none as burdensome for the applicant. Ransone's bill does not say for how long a disqualified applicant can be denied benefits, and the bill does not prohibit the submitted test results from being shared with law enforcement.
These kind of sweeping drug-testing laws are unconstitutional, counterproductive, and expensive. In fact, a federal judge blocked a similar Florida law in fall for violating the Fourth Amendment. A similar law in Michigan for welfare recipients was rejected by a federal appeals court in 2003. Many legal and public health organizations submitted a brief in opposition to the Michigan law. They argued that such a policy prevents needy recipients from seeking help, and, they wrote:
"Michigan's scheme of suspicionless urine testing of applicants and recipients fails to distinguish between drug use and drug abuse or drug impairment and levels of impairment. Nor does the program screen for alcohol, the primary substance of abuse in America. Simply put, the fact that a urine sample tests positive for drugs does not mean that the person who provided the sample was drug dependent, was a drug abuser, is drug impaired, or is in any way unfit to raise a family or hold a job."Yes, the state saves money by not conducting the tests, although it forces the needy to pay for them, but the Star reported that it would cost the Virginia Employment Commission $1 million in extra man hours.
Ransone said the drug testing is a "résumé-builder" because employers know that person has been drug-free since at least when they were unemployed. But 75% of adult illicit drug users are employed.
"It's really good to have the character skills," Ransone said about her bill. "It's just a good notion to consider that quality in a person that they're not using drugs."
The same could be said for those serving in public office.
His latest outrage has been about the District of Columbia's rodent extermination law. Cooch has claimed that Occupy Wall Street protests have led to a plague of rats in the city and that D.C. law prohibits rats from being exterminated, only captured and released; naturally he feels they'll be released in Virginia. The law "doesn't allow them to kill the dang rats," Cooch said.
Wrong. PolitiFact Virginia on Monday gave Cooch a Pants on Fire rating for this claim. The fact-checkers found that the law exempts "commensal rodents," such as rats and mice that feed on human food, from D.C.'s wildlife protection statutes. Cooch's office tried to weasel out of his claim by saying that the law further exempts certain rodents, but Cooch specifically talked about the rats in D.C., which are not the kind protected under the law.
What may be worse though is that talk show host and human bag of garbage Rush Limbaugh picked up Cooch's comments and singled out the councilwoman who sponsored the bill. The Washington Post reported this month that she's received profane, threatening emails from Limbaugh's listeners.
Cooch said in a panicky interview with CNSNews this month: "So we have real concerns about this ridiculous – ridiculous! – law and we've been pretty genial about dealing with D.C. on it. But when you see an article like the 'Rats Occupy Occupy DC,' it points up the problem that we're going to have in Virginia because of that – and because D.C.'s really outrageous – outrageous! – treatment of these varmints who, for those who don't remember their history, carried things like bubonic plague. I mean, these are true vermin." ("Ridiculous!" "Outrageous!" "Inconceivable!")
Cooch should be very familiar with "true vermin," they do smell their own kind.
Part of his pension plan for teachers is for localities to chip in $1 billion, but Bob told a General Assembly committee last month that it "puts no mandate on local government, but just continues their fair share of retirement for their teachers."
Well, not quite. Although public school teachers are local employees and localities chip in the most for their pension plans already as set by the General Assembly, localities lose state aid if they don't pony up the dough. Bob didn't start this system, but if it looks like a mandate, quacks like a mandate, extracts money from localities like a mandate, it's a mandate alright.
Meanwhile, Bob has Plan #572 to raise money for transportation without raising gas taxes. In 2008, the plan to allow the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority to collect taxes for NoVa roads was struck down as unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court, and a plan to raise funds through abusive driver fees was repealed after a firestorm of criticism.
Now, Bob wants to raise funds through toll roads, borrowing $4 billion over three years, and transferring education money, but he has another idea: sell naming rights for the state's roads, bridges, and intersections. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Saturday that, if OK'd by the General Assembly, the Commonwealth Transportation Board would establish rules, fees, and revenue projections.
Yet, the president of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance told The Huffington Post that Bob's idea "doesn't come close to providing the new long term revenue that Virginia needs – and I'm sure the governor would agree with that."
So as if being surrounded by advertising and marketing on websites, buses, theaters, and even fruit isn't enough, you might wind up living on a street named for a corporation, even a corporation you hate. So, based on Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Virginia, we could see General Dynamics Drive in Falls Church, Advance Auto Parts Avenue in Roanoke, and the CarMax Bridge in Richmond. Who wouldn't want to live on Dollar Tree Street in Chesapeake? "Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Highway" rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?
We have an idea: In the spirit of raising revenue without raising taxes, but promoting transparency in government, Bob could turn himself into a walking billboard by selling ad space on his clothes like NASCAR for his biggest campaign donors. Many are energy companies, so they could even provide flashing lights!
Tune in next week when Bob proposes selling naming rights for Virginia's public schools and parks, and kids will be attending Capital One Financial Elementary School and playing in Amerigroup State Park.
It just might happen thanks to Bob "I'll sell my soul for the right price, too!" McDonnell, today's Worst Virginian in the World!
