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Monday, February 20, 2012

Congress Gives States The Go-Ahead To Drug Test For Unemployment Benefits

As part of a deal to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits through 2012, Congress will allow states to drug test people applying for those benefits.

As part of a deal approved Friday to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits through 2012, Congress has given its okay to allow states to drug test people applying for those benefits. The move, initially opposed by Democrats, came after the Democratic leadership bowed to Republican pressure in its eagerness to get the bill passed.

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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMG, a step in the right direction long time coming. It is not rocket science to have that one figured out. Kids are going hungry in the USA 90% of the time, because the parents are snorting up the money. JMO

Anonymous said...

This is stupid. If a person is eligible for unemployment it means they lost their job due to no fault of their own. Had they been fired for "drug use" or violation of another company policy (stealing, harassment, etc.) or simply decided to quit they would NOT be eligible for unemployment benefits. People on welfare programs should be the ones tested for drug use before they are eligible, not the unemployed. What a waste of money and resources!

Anonymous said...

Ok you crackhead, pill popping, weed smoking dope fends, you won't be spending my hard earned tax paying money to get High with.

Anonymous said...

you won't be spending my hard earned tax paying money to get High with.

February 20, 2012 3:20 PM

These monies come from employers the last I knew.

The states may have had to borrow money from the fed because the economy is in the toilet and so many are unemployed.

Everything is so screwed up in this country now I don't know how anything works now.

Anonymous said...

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the people on welfare are the biggest drug users and we are supplying them with all they need to keep supporting their habit. We are doing nothing to encourage a positive change. Of course people in Congress are not rocket scientists or even anything comparably intelligent. A common middle class citizen would serve as a better route to make wise decisions!

maurice said...

i work and have to pay part of my income to support the unemployed.my boss drug tests me to make money and i keep a jobif aslong as im clean.if i show up dirty i lose my job.what a thought dont work,do drugs,let the working people pay my way.!!!!!!!!!!!

lmclain said...

Wow...90% of kids are going hungry because their parents are snorting up the money and people on welfare are the biggest drug users? Where did THOSE stats come from?? The Book of Made-Up Bullshit? Here's some shocking news --- the BIGGEST drug users are WORKING, WHITE middle class people. Taxpayers. And all those people on unemployment? Millions got there because their companies closed down, or they were laid off (the economy is really jumpin', if you haven't noticed), or were victims of vulture-like "investment firms" like the one Romney still collects millions from, that bought companies and ran them into the dirt. Then closed them. Which usually resulted in thousands of MORE unemployed. The truth is often tough for some, especially the self-righteous. Take a dose of it anyway. Here's ANOTHER suggestion. EVERY senator and Representative takes an unannounced and immediate drug test. The ones who pass (and there will be a WHOLE LOT that don't) get to tell us when and where to take OUR drug test. Otherwise, those sanctimonious and hypocritical princes and rich boys can STFU. Of course, leading by example, or even holding themselves to the same laws and standards they impose on US is such a foreign and distasteful concept, many of them would have heart attacks just thinking about it....

Anonymous said...

i work and have to pay part of my income to support the unemployed. 6:55 PM

NO YOU DO NOT.

Costs are Truly Shared by Federal and State Government
Operating as a federal-state partnership, UC is based on federal law, but administered by the states. The UC program is unique among U.S. social insurance programs in that it is funded almost totally by either federal or state taxes paid by employers.

Currently, employers pay federal unemployment taxes of 6.2 percent on the first $7,000 earned by each of their employees during a calendar year. These federal taxes are used to cover the costs of administering the UC programs in all states. In addition, the federal UC taxes pay one-half of the cost of extended unemployment benefits (during periods of high unemployment) and provide for a fund from which states may borrow, if necessary, to pay benefits.

State UC tax rates vary from state-to-state. State UC taxes may be used only to pay benefits to unemployed workers. The state UC tax rate paid by employers is based on the state's current unemployment rate. As their unemployment rates go up, the states are required by federal law to raise the UC tax rate paid by employers.

Almost all wage and salary workers are now covered by the federal-state UC program. Railroad workers are covered by a separate federal program. Ex-service members with recent service in the Armed Forces and civilian federal employees are covered by a federal program, with the states paying benefits from federal funds as agents of the federal government.

lastword said...

6:55 PM

Unless you live in one of the only 3 states that require a minimal contribution to unemployment insurance, you do not pay for UI. Your employer does.

Alaska , New Jersey , and Pennsylvania is the only states I could find that requires this. I'm not really sure if it's true or not regarding which states, but this is what I found.