Ron RamseyNASHVILLE – Drug testing for unemployed workers collecting jobless benefits as well as injured employees getting worker’s compensation are among changes Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, plans to push in the upcoming legislative session.
“I’m in favor of drug testing for people who are on any kind of benefits, whether it’s unemployment compensation or workers’ compensation, whatever it is, because I don’t think we need to be supporting that lifestyle with government money,” Ramsey told reporters. “I’m very much for that.”
He predicted the measure will pass in the session, which begins Jan. 10.
Meanwhile, Ramsey, the lieutenant governor, predicted lawmakers will “reconstitute” the state’s Court of the Judiciary, which is in charge of disciplining judges. Republicans have held hearings for months on complaints from people who say the panel has been too easy on misbehaving judges.
More citizen members are needed on the Court of the Judiciary, Ramsey said. He claims lawmakers’ hearings deserve credit for the panel issuing a public reprimand of Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge David Bales.