CBS News MinnesotaWatch Now
Filed Under:House, Lawmakers
(credit: CBS)

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.

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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.”

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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.

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