Drug Testing those on Welfare, is it a good idea???
In the news here in North Carolina, the House Speaker was facing a firestorm of criticism. He may have made a "poor choice of words" when he suggested the state "find a way to divide and conquer" people on public assistance. However he did stick by his other remarks about considering drug-testing recipients of welfare and other public money.
Is it really a bad thing to drug test those on welfare? Flordia doesn't think so! And I happen to agree with Flordia. Should the tax payers have to pay for drug habbits of people? Should tax payers have to pay the rent for a meth lab?
I understand that not all people on welfare are drug additcs. I have several family members who use state assistance and welfare for food and housing issues. I don't mind them being on welfare. What I do mind is the woman with no husband that has 7 kids and no way to support them so she goes to the state for help. Should we really have to pay for her to keep having babies when she can't take care of the ones she's already got? I do mind when a drug addict gives his EBT card to a drug dealer in trade for the dose they need until their next fix. I do mind paying the rent, electricity and water for the family on welfare that has a Meth lab in the basement.
Does this mean that all those familys should not be on welfare? I do think that if people on welfare can't pass a random drug test they should lose their welfare benefits. It's not right for the tax payers who are working hard to make money for their families to have to pay for those who aren't even trying.
Under a new Flordia law, people applying for welfare have to take a drug test at their own expense. If they pass, they are eligible for benefits and the state reimburses them for the test. If they fail, they are denied welfare for a year, until they take another test. Other states - including Alabama, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Louisiana - are considering adopting laws like Flordia's and I think that is a great idea!
I agree 100% that everyone on welfare should have to do a drug test. That doesn't mean search and seisure of their home or personal belongings, that means peeing in a cup. If you read down in the comments of that post there's a lot of people with a lot of ideas out there! In my opinion, if you aren't doing anything wrong there should be no problem doing the random drug tests. I don't know anyone who would make a big issue about it other then those who can't pass the test.
What are your thoughts?
