Bill Would Require Some to Pass Drug Test to Get Aid

[flashl]

Source: Washington Post

Supporters Say State Must Curb Abuse, but Critics Think People in Crisis Need Help, Not Punishment

Some welfare applicants and beneficiaries would be required to pass a drug test and receive counseling to receive public assistance under a controversial bill being considered by the Virginia General Assembly.

Under the proposal, which has been approved by the Senate, people applying for or in the state's job-training program, which is required to receive welfare, would be questioned about substance abuse. Those thought to be abusing drugs could be required to take a drug test.

If they failed the test or refused to comply, they would be required to attend and complete a drug treatment program to ensure that they continued to receive federal benefits under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF. If they failed a second time, they would lose their benefits. A stricter version of the bill, which would have revoked benefits immediately, passed the House initially but was tabled.

The state asks welfare applicants to allow caseworkers to screen them, but they can decline. The Senate bill would make the initial drug screenings mandatory.

Washington Post

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/18/AR2008021802128.html

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So, if you need a little help during the depression/recession/downturn/lack of consumer confidence period, you must face it sober.

[sandnsea]

1. An overall mental health meeting

where people felt like somebody gave a shit about them, would be much more productive than urine tests that everybody knows are easy to beat.

[musette_sf]

2. i'd like to see anyone at 1600 Penn Ave

take a very public drug test at random intervals. setting the example, you know.

[flashl]

4. Or Congress. There was a furor a few years back trying to schedule regular testing of Congress. nt

[dajoki]

3. WTF?

Those thought to be abusing drugs could be required to take a drug test.

How will they make that decision, or does that mean EVERYBODY will be required to take a drug test? Either way, when people need assistance, they should get it. Its up to them to decide how they will live their lives. If they ask for a drug treatment program, they should get that also. When laws like this are passed it tends to lead to everyone being lumped into one group who are guilty until proven innocent.

[flashl]

6. Haven't read the bill, but obviously they are hiring folks who can 'look' at a person and determine

the need for testing. This appears to be a throwback to the days when caseworkers performed house checks to ensure there wasn't a man in the residence of a welfare recipient.

[dajoki]

10. Yeah, that's what I'm talking about...

they will look for and find, anyway they can, a reason to give the neediest people a royal screwing!!

[enid602]

5. pass

Doe that mean Pickles and Shrub will have to pass random drug tests to get their pension payments?

[pattmarty]

7. MY PROPOSAL: Drug test ALL Senators & Congressmen every 7 days....

....... if they fail once, it's back to Podunk permanently.

[greyghost]

8. Exactly, I'm surprised that the ACLU hasn't proposed that.

[Trillo]

9. Will they also be testing for hydrocarbon poisoning?

Or how about food allergies?

[haightpillsbury]

11. That's rich

If we're going to test welfare recipients, let's also test government employees -- city, county, state, alllll the way up 'til we reach the top.

[otherlander]

12. The subtitle is misleading.

It assumes that all users of illegal drugs are "in crisis".

This is not the case.

On edit: In any case, I think the bill is a very bad idea.

[Myrina]

13. I'm all for it if CEO's getting corporate welfare do the same ...

... drug tests all around!

[KamaAina]

14. We even had bills like that here!

of course, they were introduced by a particularly nasty repuke senator who routinely asks questions like "How can we be sure this money won't be going to addicts?" Both were unceremoniously deferred in committee.

edit: spelling

[DumpDavisHogg]

15. Why doesn't the Democratic Party kick out this guy?

The guy who introduced this is a Democrat???

Yet I'm the one who got blasted for "not being a good Democrat" because I favored Kucinich.

The big tent can only be so big. The party should have no room for economic class bigots like the one who introduced this bill.