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Monday, February 11, 2013

Drug Tests For Welfare Bills Come To Three More States

Looking at the range of drug testing-for-benefits bills being pushed in state legislatures across the country, you almost have to suspect Republicans of some kind of urine fetish. In addition to all the states that are debating or have passed bills requiring people applying for unemployment insurance benefits to pee in cups, drug-testing bills aimed at welfare applicants are being introduced in three states. The specifics would be ripe for comedy if we weren't talking about a concerted effort by the powerful to stigmatize vulnerable people as drug addicts, as if that's the only reason a person might need help in an economy in which there are still more than three job-seekers for every job opening:

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Guess it's tit-for-tat; The Dems have created policies nationwide to pass a drug test for the right to EARN a living. Now the Repubs want similar rules for those who can't be bothered to take care of themselves. The biggest beneficiary, of course, is those administering the tests.

Anonymous said...

PLEASE BRING IT TO MARYLAND.

Anonymous said...

I expect a reduction in recepients of welfare benefits by about 50%.

Anonymous said...

I'm required to pass a drug test so that I can get a job, work, and make a living. They should have to pass one as well, to sit home and do nothing and get paid from the taxes I pay to work. It won't happen in Maryland. Too many liberal Democrats in congress and too many ignorant voters voting them back in year after year.

Unknown said...

The welfare and unemployment system is a good system, however it is broken and abused. I think that this type of legislation can help us in our fight against the lazy, irresponsible people who are draining this country dry. If you need help, spend it on food and necesities. If you have drugs in your system and need welfare and/or unemployment, maybe you should reprioritize what your spending your money on!

Anonymous said...

Nothing to hide take the TEST?

Anonymous said...

Unconstitutional.

Anonymous said...

1:56 So is welfare...

Anonymous said...

1:56 - What in the Constitution says that society can not establish qualifications for those accepting handouts with no obligation on their part for earning or repaying the handout. Or is that another stupid statement like "racist" to attack that which you find more like work than getting what you can get for nothing?

Anonymous said...

In that case they should also test for alcohol, if they have money for booze they shouldn't be on assistance.

Anonymous said...

1:56 Is it also unconstitutional to require me to be drug tested to get a job? You are just plain ignorant.

Anonymous said...

1:56
Unconstitutional?

How about having people like me forced to pay for people like them?

Anonymous said...

Sounds fair to me, pass the drug test get FREE money, don't pass, no FREE money. Don't want to take the test, hey, you can do that too, you just can't have any money. Nothing Unconstitutional about it. Just think, you still have the wright to GET A JOB.....

Anonymous said...

Let's look at a slightly different situation. If you claim your an alcoholic you can get a grant to go to school and eventually/hopefully become a responsible tax payer.
Anyone receiving aid/handout/what ever should be subjected to this. I hate dead beats and have tried desperately to maintain myself and clean my own personal trash up. Why shouldn't that be common place?

Anonymous said...

Stop the madness!! ban welfare it kills living a fruitful life more than guns kill
..drug testing cost money .whos paying

Anonymous said...

I think, that anyone who receives taxpayer money for anything, should take a drug test. That would include those getting welfare, OR polititions being paid by the tax payers. I say pee test all of our representatives too... I would almost wager that if they had to be regularly tested, this sort of legislation would never even be discussed.