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and kitchen cabinets and even a hot tub that the governor kept insisting he had paid for himself actually came from people who were looking for a little something from the state. >> connecticut's former governor today pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges that could send him to prison for up to five years. john roland, driven from office last summer admitted to accepting more than $100,000 worth of perks from state contractors. once a rising star in the gop, roland was even considered as a possible running mate for president bush back in 2000. >> john roland resigned as connecticut governor in 2004. then he spent almost a year with a new title -- federal prisoner number 15623-014. i do not know for sure, but that seems far less fun than getting free kitchen cabinets and free hot tubs from guys who want state contracts. the former governor john roland is back, i'm here to tell you. after he got out of the federal pok pokey, he reinvented hymn as a
people who were looking for a little something from the state. >> connecticut's former governor today pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges that could send him to prison for up to five years. john roland, driven from office last summer admitted to accepting more than $100,000 worth of perks from state contractors. once a rising star in the gop, roland was even considered as a possible running mate for president bush back in 2000. >> john roland resigned as connecticut governor in 2004. then he spent almost a year with a new title -- federal prisoner number 15623-014. i do not know for sure, but that seems far less fun than getting free kitchen cabinets and free hot tubs from guys who want state contracts. the former governor john roland is back, i'm here to tell you. after he got out of the federal pokey, he reinvented hymn as a talk radio personality. he told the public he would try to be a better person. he would show everyone how sorry he was he let them down.
drop was because people simply gave up looking for work. people who are out of work but not looking for jobs aren't counted among the unemployed. unemployment claims have remained below the 400,000 level now for 14 straight weeks, so we can take some comfort from that. but the department also revising the previous week's data to show 8,000 more people applied for benefits than first estimated at 388,000. the four-week average which is the less volatile number, if you like, it smooths out all the other seasonal data, that rose to around 374,000. that, by the way, the highest level in almost three months. but it is the time of the year when the numbers can be a little bit on a roller coaster. the easter holiday and school spring breaks are in different weeks, and that makes it difficult for the labor department to get an accurate picture. some states do allow state contractors to apply for benefits when school is out of session so, clearly, they add to
anybody thinking about taking you up on it? >> i heard that two of them had agreed to do it so that only leaves i think 158 more. i'm holding my breath. >> what is the justification for testing welfare recipients and state employees but not anybody else who receives state funds? like lawmakers, as you suggest, like state contractors, lottery winners, why just people on welfare and state employees? >> it's an easy target. this is class warfare. this is picking on the folks who happen to be unemployed especially ones with children. they're testing at a lower rate than the general population. the most recent federal drug survey shows national drug use at 8.9%, almost 9%. these people are living like monks compared to them. it's very easy and it's very popular to go after the poor and the disabled and those who are
leaves i think 158 more. i'm holding my breath. >> what is the justification for testing welfare recipients and state employees but not anybody else who receives state funds? like lawmakers, as you suggest, like state contractors, lottery winners, why just people on welfare and state employees? >> it's an easy target. this is class warfare. this is picking on the folks who happen to be unemployed especially ones with children. they're testing at a lower rate than the general population. the most recent federal drug survey shows national drug use at 8.9%, almost 9%. these people are living like monks compared to them. it's very easy and it's very popular to go after the poor and the disabled and those who are struggling to get work right now. and that's what they did. my point was that these legislators control $70 billion in -- that's the size of our state budget. they should be first in line for any drug testing. immediately. it would be a public service.
for state lawmakers to be drug tested, any reaction so far? anybody thinking about taking you up on it? >> i heard that two of them had agreed to do it so that only leaves i think 158 more. i'm holding my breath. >> what is the justification for testing welfare recipients and state employees but not anybody else who receives state funds? like lawmakers, as you suggest, like state contractors, lottery winners, why just people on welfare and state employees? >> it's an easy target. this is class warfare. this is picking on the folks who happen to be unemployed especially ones with children. they're testing at a lower rate than the general population. the most recent federal drug survey shows national drug use at 8.9%, almost 9%. these people are living like monks compared to them. it's very easy and it's very popular to go after the poor and the disabled and those who are struggling to get work right
than rich people. rick scott's forced drug testing plan did go into effect last month, tampa tribune reporting 2% of welfare applicants are failing the drug tests so far, and look, a study by the office of national drug control policy showing just over 8% of floridians use illegal drugs. so why was it again rick scott thought it was so important to drug test everybody on welfare? >> people that are on welfare are higher users of drugs than people not on welfare. >> not according to figures being gathered as a result of your forced drug tests. we're not testing the population at large that receives government money, we're not testing people on scholarships or state contractors, so why these people? it's obvious, because they are poor. this is just punishing people for being poor. really, really, really big
than rich people. rick scott's forced drug testing plan did go into effect last month, tampa tribune reporting today the state's own numbers from the new program show that about 2% of welfare applicants are failing the drug test so far. hey, look, a study by the office of national drug control policy showing just over 8% of floridaens use illegal drugs. so why was it again rick scott thought it was so important to drug test everybody on welfare? >> people that are on welfare are higher users of drugs than people not on welfare. >> not according to figures being gathered as a result of your forced drug tests. as the aclu of florida argued today, we're not testing the population at large that receives government money. we're not testing people on scholarships or state contractors. so, why these people? it's obvious. because they're poor. this is just punishing people for being poor. really, really, really big intrusive government tea party style.
plan did go into effect last month, tampa tribune reporting 2% of welfare applicants are failing the drug tests so far, and look, a study by the office of national drug control policy showing just over 8% of floridians use illegal drugs. so why was it again rick scott thought it was so important to drug test everybody on welfare? >> people that are on welfare are higher users of drugs than people not on welfare. >> not according to figures being gathered as a result of your forced drug tests. we're not testing the population at large that receives government money, we're not testing people on scholarships or state contractors, so why these people? it's obvious, because they are poor. this is just punishing people for being poor. really, really, really big intrusive government tea party style.
seems pretty clear, doesn't it, that people are sick and tired of waiting for washington to do its job. consider the national conference of state legislatures' reports that nearly 1,200 bills or resolutions dealing with immigrants were introduced in 45 states during just three months and the first three months of this year alone. 1,200. those include both pro and anti immigration measures n.mana the state is requires state contractors the make sure their workers are legal. there is a concept. this week the small town of freemont, nebraska, not exactly a border town, voted to ban the hiring of illegal aliens or renting property to them. supporters say that is a example of the washington won't, nebraska will. but critics of the aclu says that there is no rational reason for freemont, nebraska, from worrying about protecting the border. one reason for the active actii