Jackson Free Press

A proposal to randomly test some recipients of federal-state assistance passed the Mississippi House of Representatives just after 6 p.m.

It was the longest floor debate of the young legislative session. The House debated the bill for four hours before the measure passed 74-46. The House Public Health Committee had considered the bill earlier in the week.

The chairman of that committee, Rep. Sam Mims, R-McComb, sponsored the bill and characterized it as a way to help people get drug treatment. Under the proposal, recipients of TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) would be tested randomly and paid for with federal money.

A similar measure in Florida was recently struck down by a federal judge while Utah's law remains in place. Asked repeatedly about the scope of drug use among people on TANF in Mississippi, Mims said he did not have information about how big the problem is.

Democrats proposed a number of amendments, including several to drug test recipients of other types of state benefits, such as college scholarships. Rep. Adrienne Wooten, D-Jackson, put forth an amendment to test members of the Legislature at legislators' expense.

"It's only fair; it's only right," Wooten said.

Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, the former Public Health chairman, called it a "kick in the teeth" to a relatively small number of Mississippians working hard to better their lives.

"I challenge you to get outside your Southern comfort zone," and defeat the bill, Holland told his House colleagues.

Before it passed, David Myers, D-McComb, called it a waste of taxpayer money.

"Let's tackle some real issues," Myers said.