Some states are proposing drug tests for welfare - MariettaTimes.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Ohio, Community Information - The Marietta Times
Quote:
Lawmakers in at least eight states want recipients of food stamps, unemployment benefits and welfare to submit to random drug testing.
West Virginia is one of the latest states to see such a proposal introduced into the legislature.
Ohio Rep. Jennifer Garrison, D-Marietta, said the Buckeye State currently is not considering such a move, and area residents seemed split on the notion when asked Sunday.
In December, more than 31.7 million Americans were receiving food stamp benefits, compared with 27.5 million the year before.
"If someone wants welfare or food stamps, why not make sure they need it or are going to use it right," said Aaron Sarver, 25, of Marietta. "Why let someone have this help so they can sell or trade it for drugs?"
Sylvia Hall, 37, of Reno, said the government shouldn't cut benefits to the people who need help the most.
"I don't think drug testing should be considered at all," she said. "If it is and you identify someone has a problem, I think there should be more help offered... Like counseling."
Hall said helping with a drug problem might lead someone to become a contributing member of society.
"Just cutting someone like that loose would probably just increase crime," she said.
Poverty and civil liberties advocates say they fear the strategy could backfire, discouraging some people from seeking financial aid and making already desperate situations worse.
Those in favor of the drug tests say they are motivated out of a concern for their constituents' health and ability to put themselves on more solid financial footing once the economy rebounds. But proponents concede they also want to send a message: you don't get something for nothing.
Garrison said she hasn't taken a stance on the issue.
"This is really the first I've heard of it, quite frankly," she said. "I have no opinion on it, but I will be interested to see what these other states are doing."
On Wednesday, the Kansas House of Representatives approved a measure mandating drug testing for the 14,000 or so people getting cash assistance from the state, which now goes before the state senate.
In February, the Oklahoma Senate unanimously passed a measure that would require drug testing as a condition of receiving certain benefits, and similar bills have been introduced in Missouri and Hawaii.
A Florida senator has proposed a bill linking unemployment compensation to drug testing, and a member of Minnesota's House of Representatives has a bill requiring drug tests of people who get public assistance under a state program there.
A January attempt in the Arizona Senate to establish such a law failed.
Craig Blair, a Republican in the West Virginia Legislature, recently drafted the most comprehensive bill on the issue, as it would apply to anyone applying for food stamps, unemployment compensation or the federal programs usually known as "welfare."
"If so many jobs require random drug tests these days, why not these benefits?" Blair told the Associated Press.
|
I don't know what to think of this. Gut reaction is "It's about time". But part of me agrees with those who say there will be more problems. But if I had to the person making the final decision on this, I may be tempted to go with my gut and then address the problems as they pop up.
There is a fair amount of food stamps traded for alcohol or beer. I'd hope that the debit card system used so widely now has throttled that down, but at one time I heard accounts of people buying food stamps for ten cents on the dollar.
Also with the number of employers using drug testing, this leaves a number of unemployable people perhaps. Would the casual pot smoker then decide to drop the weed and get a job?
I know the welfare system has been something that has helped a great many people through the years. But no doubt it has also been something that has been abused to the point it has left many wanting it overhauled.