The idea of welfare recipients having to pass a drug test has been mentioned in the comments on numerous blogs. After all, it is required at many jobs, so why not for the welfare recipients.
States consider drug tests for welfare recipients
By TOM BREEN
“Nobody’s being forced into these assistance programs,” said Craig Blair, a Republican in the West Viginia Legislature who has created a Web site – notwithmytaxdollars.com – that bears a bobble-headed likeness of himself advocating this position. “If so many jobs require random drug tests these days, why not these benefits?”
Blair is proposing the most comprehensive measure in the country, as it would apply to anyone applying for food stamps, unemployment compensation or the federal programs usually known as “welfare”: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Women, Infants and Children.
For FULL ARTICLE: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090326/D975MFE80.html
4 comments
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March 26, 2009 at 7:12 am
Rich S
With roughly 5.5 million unemployed persons and 30 million food stamp recipients in the US, even a quickie oral drug test at $5 to $10 per test would cost about $175 million to $350 million if applied nationwide one time. Of course, there are offsets and add-ons that bounce this number around but a monthy test for all US recipients would work out to be $2.1 billion to $4.2 billion.
Like they say at AIG headquarters, you gotta spend money to make money!
March 26, 2009 at 8:23 am
JAMES
Great point
March 26, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Interested Bystander
Hey All,
I had to pass a drug test to join the Army way back in 1982.
I have had to pass drug tests at every employer that ever hired me.
I have been required to take a drug test whenever injured, and had random drug tests held over my head.
Simply asking someone who is “applying” for benefits from the Government to take a drug test, in my opinion, is way over due. They should also be subject to random tests while receiving benefits. Unemployment should also have drug testing requirements.
April 12, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Gusemevemok
Hello! http://www.outletradio.com/grantham/archives/000021.html
jonyboy Today’s Republican party continues to display its compassionate side with recent comments from Tennessee Republican Rep