South Carolina considers drug tests, community service for unemployment

[marmar]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Senate panel advanced bills Tuesday that would require people laid off in South Carolina to pass a drug test to receive unemployment benefits, then volunteer 16 hours weekly with a charity or public agency to keep receiving a check.

Though the panel heard testimony that both proposals would likely conflict with federal law, its chairman, Sen. Kevin Bryant, said afterward that doesn't matter.

"It's time to start pushing back," said Bryant, R-Anderson. "I can't base how I vote on a bill on what some activist, liberal judge is going to do."

The bills head to the full Senate Labor Commerce and Industry Committee, which meets Thursday. ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/sc-senate-panel-approves-unemployment-bills-192025003.html

[PDJane]

1. more state slave labour?

[Odin2005]

2. Par for the course for SC, before the Civil War they were the most fanatical...

...pro-slavery assholes.

[enki23]

3. Community service for unemployment = socialist state jobs program?

.

[OhioBlue]

10. my thoughts exactly!!!

[badgerpup]

4. I like the idea of 'community service' actually...

*dons flame-retardant suit*

...they do get a check, and it helps if you're actually DOING something to receive the money.
Long-term unemployment can be a depressive thing...and who knows...you might find an open door or two during the service...point you in a direction you may not have considered.

[Son of Gob]

8. They already DID something to receive the money.

They had a job and an employer who paid state and federal taxes for Unemployment Insurance.

I'd hate to hear your views on welfare.

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. Thank You!

[NYC Liberal]

9. They are already did: when they had a job and their employer paid UI tax.

[provis99]

11. ok then.

If your house burns down, should your house insurance company make you do community service in order to get your insurance payout? Because that's exactly what you are asking for those who pay for unemployment insurance.

[OhioBlue]

12. I'm not totally against the idea either - for 2 of the reasons you mentioned

long term unemployment can be depressive and the networking aspect for other job opportunities.

I would rather see it as a separate program tho rather than a reform of unemployment - something for those who don't qualify for unemployment or a stipend for those on unemployment. If you are on unemployment then you're making less wages then when you worked - if you have to do 16 hours of community service, then you are adding to your expenses - travel, perhaps childcare, etc. Plus, anyone who volunteers knows that you end up paying for extras and/or donating cash or things to a charity once you become really involved.

[musette_sf]

15. As I spent every second of every day I was unemployed, for 10+ hours a day,

working on FINDING A JOB -

AND

as the unemployment compensation pittance that I received was paid into by **ME** - I already DID "something to receive the money" - I WORKED.

And if I were forced into "community service", in addition to all the phoney-baloney "job searching training" useless waste-of-time-and-gasoline sessions I was forced into, all that would do is make my 10+ hours a day of job searching into 15+ hours a day of job searching, during the periods that I wasn't subject to coercion into useless, condescending, insulting busy-work.

The MOST depressive part of unemployment was the useless, condescending, insulting busy-work that was forced upon me.

[spanone]

5. what thee fuck?

[Lint Head]

6. South Carolina is a bigoted State. I was born and raised there. Thank God I left.

[BlueToTheBone]

7. So, you work, insurance is paid and in order to receive your insurance payment

you are required to do more work and have your privacy invaded? Won't make it past their delusional mean brains.

[TwilightGardener]

14. If it was some sort of optional job-training, maybe.

But just mandated volunteer work? No--these people still have to fill out applications and go on interviews--why are they being punished with "community service" as if they did something bad?

[ddeclue]

16. Unconstitutional. n/t

[DataMgr4U]

17. How?

How can they afford to run all these drug tests? They have already cut benefits and are increasing the processing time, because they say they don't have enough people to process the claims. It sounds too me like the bureacracy is 420 friendly!! lol


Let me guess! Are they funding the drug tests with the money they saved by cutting the benefits? Everyone reading this countact your state senator for your district and complain! Stop being sheep and take action!!