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Ushered in amid promises that it would save taxpayers money and deter drug users, a Florida law requiring drug tests for people who seek welfare benefits resulted in no direct savings, snared few drug users and had no effect on the number of applications, according to recently released state data.

— Let’s just file this under NO DUH FLORIDA. The incredibly stupid program required all welfare applicants to pay for their own drug tests (“Hi, I have no money for food, but let me pay for the privilege of applying for help”), but would reimburse them the $30 fee if they passed. To the disappointment of Florida lawmakers, who were hoping to cut their welfare rolls even further by eliminating folks that failed drug tests, 98% of applicants passed.

The cost to the state [over four months] was $118,140. This is more than would have been paid out in benefits to the people who failed the test … As a result, the testing cost the government an extra $45,780 …

You know, just money that could have gone to actually feeding people, NBD.

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