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Lawmakers in at least eight states want recipients of food stamps, unemployment benefits or welfare to submit to random drug testing.
The effort comes as more Americans turn to these safety nets to ride out the recession. Poverty and civil liberties advocates fear the strategy could backfire, discouraging some people from seeking financial aid and making already desperate situations worse.
Those in favor of the drug tests say they are motivated out of a concern for their constituents' health and ability to put themselves on more solid financial footing once the economy rebounds. But proponents concede they also want to send a message: you don't get something for nothing.
"Nobody's being forced into these assistance programs," said Craig Blair, a Republican in the West Viginia Legislature who has created a Web site — notwithmytaxdollars.com — that bears a bobble-headed likeness of himself advocating this position. "If so many jobs require random drug tests these days, why not these benefits?"
Blair is proposing the most comprehensive measure in the country, as it would apply to anyone applying for food stamps, unemployment compensation or the federal programs usually known as "welfare": Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Women, Infants and Children.
Lawmakers in other states are offering similar, but more modest proposals.
On Wednesday, the Kansas House of Representatives approved a measure mandating drug testing for the 14,000 or so people getting cash assistance from the state, which now goes before the state senate. In February, the Oklahoma Senate unanimously passed a measure that would require drug testing as a condition of receiving TANF benefits, and similar bills have been introduced in Missouri and Hawaii. A Florida senator has proposed a bill linking unemployment compensation to drug testing, and a member of Minnesota's House of Representatives has a bill requiring drug tests of people who get public assistance under a state program there.
Originally posted by andy1033
If you are on welfare, how would you afford illegal drugs?
Just how many people that get welfare, can buy that stuff when they need food, and other things.
Can there really be that big of a problem of welfare people on drugs.
Originally posted by andy1033
If you are on welfare, how would you afford illegal drugs?
Just how many people that get welfare, can buy that stuff when they need food, and other things.
Can there really be that big of a problem of welfare people on drugs.
Originally posted by skeptic1
reply to post by aLiiEn
In my job, it is a requirement that I get tested on a random basis.
I have no problem with that.
Why should there be a problem with people who are being supported/partially supported by the tax-payers being randomly drug tested?
Originally posted by skeptic1
Why should there be a problem with people who are being supported/partially supported by the tax-payers being randomly drug tested?
Originally posted by aLiiEn
To at least specific people who have signs and symptoms or past history's of abuse to detect it.
Just by you saying, that people who are down on there luck, being helped out, should be tested for illegal or legal substance abuse.
Is discrimination.
Originally posted by skeptic1
In my job, it is a requirement that I get tested on a random basis.
I have no problem with that.
Why should there be a problem with people who are being supported/partially supported by the tax-payers being randomly drug tested?