News and information concerning the many issues Baby Boomer's face as we age.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Welfare Drug Testing
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A measure to require drug testing as a condition for receiving welfare has passed the Senate.
The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Stacey Campfield of Knoxville passed 24-9 Wednesday.
The legislation requires new welfare applicants to undergo a special screening process. If suspicion is raised after the screening, then the applicant would be drug tested.
The proposal differs from an original version that would have required blanket testing. The state’s attorney general opined that approach would be unconstitutional because it would violate applicants’ rights not to be drug tested unless there is suspicion they are using drugs.
The companion bill is awaiting a vote in the House Finance Committee.
This bill may be “better than nothing”, but not much. The original version makes more sense! This bill really waters down the first bill quite a bit.
Why shouldn’t the government be able to drug test before providing free money out of our taxes! It is perfectly legal for employers to drug test before hiring. The Government requires “civil service testing” as part of their “qualification process”. Why shouldn’t drug testing be a part of the “qualifying process” for welfare and unemployment” as well?
In my opinion, anyone elected to a government office should be required to take a drug test. If you get a govornment paycheck, you ought to be drug-free to get it. Unemployment is also a government check so, … drug test or don’t get it either!
What do YOU think?
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Families that need help can't afford to come up with money to pay for a drug test. Then the state (or federal) government has to reimburse them if they pass. That is a lot of money...tax payer money...being spent to test people that give no indication they are using drugs.
ReplyDeleteYou people have obviously never been hungry. Even $20 is a burden when you have hungry children to feed, but how much more than that do these tests cost?
What has happened to our compassion?
I have always been first in line to help someone through a rough spot, but if I have to prove that I am a legal citizen and be drug tested to GET a job, I think the people that our government hands MY hard earned dollars to, should have to follow the same rules. I have a great deal of compassion for those struggling. I happen to BE one of them. I also have a great deal of contempt for the THOUSANDS of people, perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, who have CHOSEN to live off the backs of others.
DeleteI know all too well what it's like to be hungry and have a child to feed. I also know what it's like to need help but not "qualify" while my neighbor and his wife, who draw disability and food stamps, play basketball in their front yard and spend most nights in their back yard grilling steaks, drinking beer and smoking pot half the night, while their children run around in rags and miss school because "Mommy and Daddy are SICK".
ReplyDeleteTHAT is what has happened to our compassion.
If you have a problem with taking a drug test before you can get your check, it makes me think you probably couldn't pass it.