Florida’s Governor Presents New Budget; Calls for “Drug Testing” of Entitlement Checks

“Gov. Rick Scott, who will release his budget proposal today in the Central Florida town of Eustis, is expected to offer a jobless-benefits plan that is more drastic than the legislature’s. Among the changes Scott’s transition team recommended are requiring drug testing for applicants and requiring them to perform community service or other jobs to receive benefits.”

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/gop-urges-strict-rules-for-jobless-get-real-1237168.html

Dems Balk at Idea of “Drug Testing” Welfare Recipients, But Schumer Proposes Legislation that Bans Anyone Who has Admitted to Using Drugs from Owning a Gun

If someone admits to a federal official that he or she has used illegal drugs, that information should be sent to the FBI so that person can be disqualified from purchasing a gun, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said today.

Noting that Jared Lee Loughner, the alleged shooter in the Tucson massacre, had admitted to military recruiters that he had used drugs on several occasions, Schumer, said he was proposing to the Justice Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that the military be required to notify federal officials about such admissions. He said such a process does not require new legislation
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/schumer_ban_guns_for_drug_test_flunkies_bLoHQcfL8zCoGC2wrV3cWL#ixzz1BEzx4oLg

Proposal for Welfare Recipients: Pass a Drug test to receive government aid

     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

A Novel Approach to Welfare Reform

      It is no secret that many of our programs are mired-down bureaucracies, and our welfare program is no exception. In any society, there will be that segment of the society, hopefully small in nature, that for one reason or another, needs the assistance of the government or others to assist them.

     As an employer, I have had to deal with employee drug testing matters on a regular basis. I recently saw a “joke” regarding drug testing and the welfare program, and it gave me pause to reflect on its application. The premise is that we all pay taxes based upon our employment, and we are required to have employee drug testing as a part of continued employment. Our taxes are used, in part, to fund our welfare programs. The question is then, should the recipients of our tax dollars be required to take a drug test to receive those benefits?

     Before anyone begins an attack on this thought process, take a deep breath and really think about the concept here. First and foremost, this is in no way a suggestion that all welfare recipients are drug users. It is, though, an honest question about the expenditures of our hard earned money, and the criteria for disbursing those funds. Just as an employee who fails a drug test jeopardizes their employment, shouldn’t the same standard apply to those receiving the welfare checks we supply?

      This approach could have a far-reaching impact on welfare reform, holding the recipients accountable to the system on a regular basis. Thoughts?