By Sascha Cordner
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-973804.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Governor Rick Scott recently delayed his plans for all state employees to take a drug test. As Sascha Cordner reports, the decision comes after ACLU of Florida filed a lawsuit a few weeks ago to block the Governor's executive order.
Scott says it did not make sense to go through with his plans of mandatory drug testing for all state employees while a lawsuit is pending. But, he says his decision to postpone the executive order is NOT a concession.
"Nah, I mean we're going forward with it, as you saw, with what I put out. We're continuing to go forward, so..."
But, ACLU of Florida Executive Director Howard Simon calls Scott's decision, "a massive retreat."
"Well, He [Scott] can put as much as a good face on this as he will try, but this is nothing less than a full retreat, and I think frankly, an embarrassing retreat for the Governor."
In a June 10th memo, Scott said for now, the Department of Corrections would be the only agency administering drug tests for state employees, regardless of suspicion.