Kentucky lawmaker wants random drug testing for welfare recipients

[Freeper]

babylonsister  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jan-17-11 09:33 AM
Original message
Kentucky lawmaker wants random drug testing for welfare recipients
   
Kentucky lawmaker wants random drug testing for welfare recipients

By Jack Brammer at 12:00am on Jan 17, 2011 — jbrammer@herald-leader.com Modified at 6:52am on Jan 17, 2011


FRANKFORT — A state lawmaker wants random drug testing of adult Kentuckians who receive food stamps, Medicaid or other state assistance.

Those who fail the test would lose their benefits under House Bill 208, filed by Rep. Lonnie Napier, R-Lancaster.

Napier's proposal has won the backing of powerful House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, but critics say it would stigmatize welfare recipients and possibly harm their innocent children.

"I'm not a hard-hearted guy," said Napier. "I believe there is a need for public assistance for those who need it, but I understand some are using these funds to buy drugs."

Napier said the goal "is to get people off drugs."

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/01/17/1600950/kentucky-law...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x215082

Of course the pot heads at DU hate this idea.

rfranklin  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jan-17-11 09:36 AM
Response to Original message
1. In all fairness, legislators should be given drug tests and ...
   
be evaluated for alcohol addiction.

Obama's doctor said months ago that he needs to cut back on his drinking.

Odin2005  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jan-17-11 09:39 AM
Response to Original message
2. Criminalizing poverty. Ugh.

My thought is, if they can afford to buy drugs then maybe they don't need taxpayer money funding their habit.

fascisthunter  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jan-17-11 09:42 AM
Response to Original message
4. idiots... punishing people doesn't work!!!!

You are right so how about we let Tom Delay out of jail right away since punishment doesn't work.

JitterbugPerfume  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jan-17-11 09:45 AM
Response to Original message
6. someone I love is an addict
   
and I wish it were that simple. addiction is a complex problem.

Now wait a second pot heads all over the world have said that it is impossible to be addicted to pot. So how can this apply to pot heads?

pinboy3niner  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jan-17-11 09:47 AM
Response to Original message
7. I wonder how Napier would like it...
   
...if we investigated what he's spending his taxpayer-funded state salary on? And if we cut off his paycheck if we find some things there that we don't like. Porn? Drugs? Alcohol? We could form a Morality Committee to come up with some arbitrary rules!

The difference is Napier is doing a job for the govt. Welfare recipients do nothing for the money they get.
Besides if they were to get gasp *jobs* they would have to submit to testing to do that.
Why should welfare recipients be given the luxury to engage in illegal activity that working people don't have.
Not that I condone working people smoking dope but, at least they would be using their own money not money taken from us.

[thundley4]

Missouri is also trying to do this again this year.

[Freeper]

Missouri is also trying to do this again this year.

I also would like those getting UE checks getting tested too.
Or at least if you are collecting UE and you come up hot on a test for a potential employer you lose benefits.

[thundley4]

I also would like those getting UE checks getting tested too.
Or at least if you are collecting UE and you come up hot on a test for a potential employer you lose benefits.

People would just avoid employers that require screening.  Why not have people that are on welfare, be required to be actively looking for work to get their benefits, just like those drawing unemployment?

[Freeper]

People would just avoid employers that require screening.  Why not have people that are on welfare, be required to be actively looking for work to get their benefits, just like those drawing unemployment?

That's just crazy talk. 

[Karin]

Seems to me that almost every employer requires it.  Their insurance companies pretty much insist on it. 

[Evil_Conservative]

Pass that law and I'll move to Kentucky.

[DumbAss Tanker]

you have to deal with it for earning a military paycheck, I don't see why you should get paid by the government for doing nothing and not have to do it.

[GOBUCKS]

You have to wonder if the jug-eared Kenyan's documented excessive drinking, or his undocumented but likely drug use, might be the reason he cannot speak without a teleprompter.

[delilahmused]

Okay...let's compromise, DUmmies...ALL government employees (even up through the White House) have to undergo random drug screening and so do people on any kind of public assistance. Or, how about this...anyone receiving one damn dime of taxpayer dollars better be prepared to pee in a cup.

Cindie

[Freeper]

Okay...let's compromise, DUmmies...ALL government employees (even up through the White House) have to undergo random drug screening and so do people on any kind of public assistance. Or, how about this...anyone receiving one damn dime of taxpayer dollars better be prepared to pee in a cup.

Cindie

I could go for that.

[AllosaursRus]

I also would like those getting UE checks getting tested too.
Or at least if you are collecting UE and you come up hot on a test for a potential employer you lose benefits.

Up here in HideeHo that's exactly what happens if you go for an interview and fail the drug test! Now if we can just get 'em to do it for all these asshats on welfare and foodstamps, we could clean this shit up and reduce our budget!

^5 Cin!!!! My sentiments exactly!

[jukin]

Put me in charge ...

Put me in charge of food stamps. Id get rid of Lone Star cards; no cash for Ding Dongs or Ho Hos, just money for 50-pound bags of rice and beans, blocks of cheese and all the powdered milk you can haul away. If you want steak and frozen pizza, then get a job.

Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing Id do is to get women Norplant birth control implants or tubal legations. Then, well test recipients for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine and document all tattoos and piercings. If you want to reproduce or use drugs, alcohol, smoke or get tats and piercings, then get a job.

Put me in charge of government housing. Ever live in a military barracks? You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair. Your home will be subject to inspections anytime and possessions will be inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360, then get a job and your own place.

In addition you need to work for entitlements. You will either present a check stub from a job each week (and a drug test) or you will report to a government job (and take a drug test). It may be cleaning the roadways of trash, painting and repairing public housing, serve or cook soup in a soup kitchen or whatever we find for you. We will sell your 22 inch rims and low profile tires and your blasting stereo and speakers and put that money toward the common good.

Before you write that I’ve violated someone’s rights, realize that all of the above is voluntary. If you want our money, accept our rules.. Before you say that this would be demeaning and ruin their self-esteem, consider that it wasn’t that long ago that taking someone else’s money for doing absolutely nothing was demeaning and lowered self esteem.

If we are expected to pay for other peoples mistakes we should at least attempt to make them learn from their bad choices. The current system rewards people for continuing to make bad choices.

I want this guy in charge.

[true_blood]

fascisthunter  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)    Mon Jan-17-11 09:42 AM
Response to Original message
4. idiots... punishing people doesn't work!!!!

"Punishing" them by not giving them welfare for drugs?
You're high on the intellect level huh, fascisthunter?

[delilahmused]

fascisthunter  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jan-17-11 09:42 AM
Response to Original message
4. idiots... punishing people doesn't work!!!!

Seems to me the people using the drugs are punishing themselves AND their children. I say if the test comes up dirty they lose their kids until they go through a treatment program and prove they can stay clean for a period of time. If you care enough about your kids you won't jeopardize their health by taking drugs and risk having the money that feeds them and puts a roof over their head taken from them. But according the the little fascist here, it's better punish the children by having a parent strung out on drugs and unable to care for them properly.

Cindie

[I_B_Perky]

Missouri is also trying to do this again this year.

Some house delegate in West by God Virginia put a bill forth to do that a couple of years ago. Oh the wailing and gnashing of teeth. The bill went nowhere.

Hell... West by God Virginia tried to make the folks on medicaid be more responsible for their health care. Things like showing on time for Dr. appts, taking their meds, etc. If they did that they would get enhanced benefits. If they didn't they got less benefits but not less than were required by law. Something like 10,000 people used the program and everyone else didn't. Oh the wailing and gnashing of teeth about how we were discriminating against the poor. My opinion at the time was that these fools can't even man up and take responsibility for their lives as it is now so why should we give them anything else but the basic stuff.

Pisses me off.