The Virginian-Pilot
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RICHMOND
A House committee this morning appeared to end Republican-led efforts to require welfare recipients to submit to drug testing to receive benefits.
The House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee voted 14-6 to send SB 6 to the House Appropriations Committee, which appears likely to table the bill. The bill was sponsored by Chesterfield County Republican Sen. Steve Martin. A similar House bill, sponsored by Del. Dickie Bell, R-Staunton, was tabled for the year by the Appropriations Committee, which cited annual costs of more than $1 million.
Both bills would have required the initial drug screening of all applicants, followed by drug testing if officials suspected illegal drug use. Those refusing to be tested would be denied benefits unless they entered a treatment program.
Proponents said the legislation would ensure that taxpayer money spent on welfare is being used for families. Opponents countered that drug testing is degrading and studies have not shown that drug abuse is more widespread among welfare recipients than among the general population.
Martin’s bill cleared the Senate last week after Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling broke a 20-20 tie.
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UNBELIEVABLE!
As a person who works my butt off every day and can barely make ends meet, it appalls me to no end that we don't enforce testing for those who want to sit on their butts and collect welfare while the rest of us pay.The savings of terminating those who abuse the program would well exceed one million. Those who think many collecting welfare are not on drugs are mistaken. I ran an insurance debit for many years in two welfare housing neighborhoods and I can assure you, MANY of them are using drugs, running shot houses and a host of other illegal activity.We used to call it "Mother's Day" at the first of the month when they would get their checks because we knew from experience we would have to get their money that day or they would spend it.
WE CAN'T ALLOW THIS
Well, this is what we get when we try to ligislate personal responsibility and morality. Drug testing is fine for some state workers, some city workers, and even some federal workers, and oh yeah, law enforcement, but oh no we just can't hold government handout takers to the standard of no drug use. We just can't expect anything of them. We are mean, racist, poor people haters. If I am ever in the position of asking for help from anyone, government handout or private handout, if they want me to pee in a cup, give some blood, a lock of hair, then that is what I will need to do in order to provide for my family. Wy do we require anything of them at all, just have them show up once a month for all the freebies and say see you next month!
Voting Under the Influence?
Given the direction and focus of our Republican led state legislature, it might be more appropriate to drug test legislators and Republican voters. Maybe the Republican caucus should require testing as voting Under the Influence endangers public safety.
Drug testing is
Drug testing is understandable where safety and job performance can be an issue. This law will cost far more than it will save. If you really want to throw money at the poverty and drug problems why not throw it somewhere it can be directly beneficial versus this stupid and costly folly?
So the children raised by
So the children raised by drug using parents don't involve saftey concerns? Because nothing bad has ever happened from smoking crack, right?
And since 1632 out of 8632 people failed the test or opted out of Florida's welfare program after they passed their law; I'd say that adds up to significant savings.
Why exactly do you think it's a good idea for welfare recipients to use drugs?
The legislation does nothing
The legislation does nothing for children of drug abusers. That's a red herring. This is another, and a cheap shot as well: "Why exactly do you think it's a good idea for welfare recipients to use drugs?" I hope you don't teach anything related to debate or public discourse.
The program cost more money than it saves. It is pretty simple.
I will be for testing 4wealfare when all state recipents are
I will be for drug testing when all recipients of government money are tested. This includes the governor and all representatives. From the bills submitted it seems evident those in Richmond are on something.
Whitch Hunt
How do you keep the politicians from benefiting from this policy behind closed doors? you can't. Who is the CEO of the company doing the drug testing? what companies will be awarded contracts? Why won't someone redirect their attention to the tolls we will be paying to travel through the Downtown and Midtown tunnels this fall? Which will effect everyone, even if you are on welfare, retired, in school, military, truckers, vendors, merchants, the list goes on and on. Stop worrying about welfare recipiants and drug testing. There are not enough people in the system on drugs to justify using taxpayer dollars. This is not a free service.
Could you provide the link
Could you provide the link to the study that shows people on welare don't use drugs?
I'll point to the Florida law as my study. 32 people failed the test, 1600 people refused to test. 7000 passed the test. Last I checked, 1632 out of 8632 is quite a bit more than the oft quoted 2%.
LOL
I bet the study they are citing was one where they ASKED the welfare recipients if the were using drugs and the response was "NO".