Government

Attorney General Jack Conway isn’t upset the General Assembly’s so called “Pill Mill Bill” failed to place the KASPER prescription drug monitoring system with his office.

A measure requiring Tennessee welfare recipients to go through drug testing passed the state Senate yesterday. The legislation requires new welfare applicants to undergo a special screening process. If suspicion is raised after the screening, the applicant would be drug tested. The proposal differs from an original version that would have required blanket testing, which Attorney General Robert Cooper Jr. says is unconstitutional. The companion bill is awaiting a vote in the House Finance Committee.

A proposal to help Tennesseans get off unemployment and find a job has passed the state Senate. The "Tennessee Works Act" passed unanimously yesterday. The companion bill is awaiting a vote in the House Finance Committee. The bill creates a pilot program to provide employers with grants to pay for training expenses for recently laid-off workers or those whose jobs have gone overseas. In order to continue receiving the grant funds, employers agree to hire some of the employees trained.

Another advocacy group is using potential job losses to oppose Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's plan to cut Medicaid. The Responsible Budget Coalitions says the state would lose almost 38,000 jobs and millions of dollars in economic activity related to health care. The coalition includes advocates for retirees, housing and other services. Quinn wants to cut Medicaid spending by about $2 billion dollars, but Ralph Martire of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability says it won't save that much because spending less means the state gets less in federal matching funds.

Elderly and Disabled Hopkins County residents can now opt out of firefighter dues permanently instead of notifying the county each year.  Officials say anyone who is 65 or older or who has a disability exemption may choose to opt out indefinitely. The ordinance allows anyone in the county to refuse to pay yearly dues to their volunteer firefighter departments. However, should a fire break out, the property or homeowner would be responsible for the entire cost of the firefighters response. Residents have until June 1st to opt out.

A decision is expected within six weeks over whether Instant Racing is legal in Kentucky. The state’s Court of Appeals heard arguments in the case today.

Instant Racing is a slots-like game that Kentucky racetracks hope to use to boost race purses. But the Family Foundation of Kentucky says the game isn’t pari-mutuel betting like horse racing, but instead is closer to a slot machine.

Foundation executive director Kent Ostrander says based on questions from the appeals judge, he believes the case will go back to square one.