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Drug Test For Lawmakers: Next Stop, Senate

ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- First the House. Now the Senate.

Members of the Minnesota Senate will decide whether to require drug tests for lawmakers to qualify for their pay and benefits.

Republican Sen. Sean Nienow of Cambridge said he'll introduce a measure similar to the one in the House inspired by a proposal calling for welfare recipients to undergo drug tests.

A follow-up House amendment called for lawmakers to do the same and that prompted comments such as "bring on the cup."

Drug Tests For Lawmakers

Sen. Nienow said he's not kidding.

"No, this is not tongue-in-cheek. I'm certainly willing to have the legislature take randomized drug testing. And it probably is not a bad thing. It's just like, on public assistance welfare, if someone has a drug problem we'd like to know that and help them get it fixed," Nienow said.

Nienow is not predicting whether his senate proposal for drug testing will come out positive.

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