Drug testing for welfare recipients in FL
Old Trooper sends us a link to an article which reports that teh Florida governor signed legislation that would require welfare recipients to pass drug testing in order to continue benefits;
“It’s the right thing for taxpayers,” Scott said after signing the measure. “It’s the right thing for citizens of this state that need public assistance. We don’t want to waste tax dollars. And also, we want to give people an incentive to not use drugs.”
Under the law, which takes effect on July 1, the Florida Department of Children and Family Services will be required to conduct the drug tests on adults applying to the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The aid recipients would be responsible for the cost of the screening, which they would recoup in their assistance if they qualify. Those who fail the required drug testing may designate another individual to receive the benefits on behalf of their children.
Yeah, that’s a good start – I’d also make them finish high school.
Category: Society
there needs to be alternative educational paths in the US. I mean, ( full disclosure: I homeschool) But if we FORCE people to go to school, with the gov’t in charge of it, what we provide ought to be satisfactory and legitimate.
I support the drug testing– but if they designate someone else– they may as well give it to the druggie. They are all in the whole “us against the gov’t {who provide our livelihood}” thing.
They are just trying to rip Governor Scott to shreds down here. Every news story that has “Rick Scott” in it reads more like a liberal op-ed piece.
how much you wanna bet within the week the ACLU will try to block this?
@Doc- You mean like this?
http://www.usforacle.com/gov-scott-signs-welfare-drug-testing-bill-1.2596853
The ACLU will try and block it, but the SCOTUS and other courts have supported mandatory drug testing in the workplace, schools, and such. This issue is a non-starter for them.
What this bill will do, under the law of unintended consequences (or perhaps thoroughly intended), is to create a bureaucracy and database of welfare recipients with four basic categories:
Clean
Not clean but has prescriptions for whatever (oxycontin and so on)
Not clean pending doctor’s confirmation
Not clean – refer for administration and/or legal action
The last two are where the corruption comes into play.
I agree with BooRadley.
Sounded great at first, but now with that little added bit, what difference does it make since the recipient can simply designate someone else to receive it while she continues to abuse drugs.
They’re making it seem as if it’s that easy for junkies to stop doing drugs cold (after decades of abuse), simply from the (weak) ‘threat’ of this legislation.
Our priorities are in the wrong place. Humanity is in for a shock.
I think it’s a decent and noble start, but many factors to consider… #7, Tman is on the right track… but also, the article doesn’t mention whether the tests are random or upon requesting welfare. Many drugs are out of the body within 3 to 5 days (aside from pot), and quicker to go with the right cleansers (as much as it sucks to admit this, take it from someone who’s gone through it). So a lot of people can get away with being addicts and still manipulating the system. I don’t know if it’s worth the cost of the tests.
I am more interested in testing every member of congress and the senate. Because frankly, their behavior is irrational and idiotic.
They cost us more than any “welfare queen” ever will.
@Blanka- The cost of the test is the responsibility of the person being tested. If the results are a negative, that person is reimbursed.
Many people (particularly veterans) use marijuana for medical reasons. Doubt them if you must; there are many documented cases and a growing literature on the medical potential of the plant. I do not understand why it is in society’s interest to pass laws like these that do not allow for the presumption of medical liberty.
Because doing meth or crack isn’t a medical liberty, maybe? And Florida is not one of the 14 states that allows the legal use of medical marijuana.
In each of the arguments above that would sympathize with the recipient, I would ask if then those of us who supply the tax base that supports them should be expected to continue to do drug tests? What’s the problem with someone being high in the workplace? Why worry about their fellow workmates’ safety?
If people can afford drugs, they damned sure don’t need welfare. And to the comment who wasn’t sure- the tests will be both at application AND as random. Of course it is faulted, it is government run, as EVERYTHING that is government run is faulted in some way.
It is clearly possible to distinguish between medically valuable preparations of marijuana and crack/meth/hard drugs. But also keep in mind that the crack/meth style drugs flush through human systems fairly fast; marijuana metabolites can persist for much longer periods.
In a sense, this regulation doesn’t prevent people from using hard drugs that flush through their systems quickly. It does prevent them from using medically valuable preparations of marijuana.
I guess the biggest problem I see here is that these regulations are not being crafted by the medical profession, but by self interested law enforcement groups who intend to serve violators with SWAT teams on the flimsiest of evidence. Example: Former Marine Jose Guerena.
I don’t see how this bill, which I admittedly haven’t read all of the details on, is negative to anyone that isn’t breaking the law. If someone is using a drug for a medically approved, both by the laws of Florida and a physician, reason then with proper documentation that person’s results should be excused based on their drug requirements. Anyone else is breaking the law and is not deserving of money provided by people who are financing their benefits. The notion that this violates the 4th Amendment is also preposterous. There is nothing forcing anyone to accept welfare benefits or state employment. This is a condition of the benefits received (welfare or employment) and does NOT force anyone to do either. It’s too bad this isn’t being done at a Federal level.