Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Michigan to Test Welfare Recipients for Drug Use

Michigan Governor Snyder. Ain't he a peach?
Image from source, Think Progress
There are reasons why Republicans have a reputation for being both tight-asses and just flat mean. Here's one, in fairly bold letters. There is no particular evidence that welfare recipients are larger than average drug users as a population (in fact some studies show the opposite). So, what is the point of this kind of legislation, exactly? Shaming? And hey, where are all of the conservative "values" people when the children of those found to be using drugs are denied food and medicine? What about the children?

And of course, I'd like to know if any government assistance should require drug testing of recipients? Corporate welfare, perhaps? Why not?

[Excerpt]

Michigan Governor Signs Bill Requiring Drug Testing Of Welfare Recipients
 
Welfare recipients in some Michigan counties will soon be tested if they’re suspected of using drugs, under a set of bills signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder this week. The Senate and House bills, which were signed into law Friday, will create a yearlong pilot program in three counties that will screen welfare recipients and applicants to determine whether or not they’re suspected of using drugs. If they are, the applicants or recipients must submit to a drug test. If the test comes back positive, they will be referred to a treatment program, and if they choose not to enter the program, they will lose their welfare benefits. Applicants and recipients will also lose their eligibility for welfare benefits for six months. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

2 comments:

  1. I have no problem with the testing requirements.
    The taxpayers are paying their way.
    And many government agencies require drug testing their employees, especially when they are first hired and afterwards, especially if there is just cause. What about their children if they are caught using drugs?
    So, why treat welfare people who receive government money better than the employees who work with the welfare people.

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  2. I don't have a problem with it as a general policy for anyone who receives government money, and if this was just "the way things are done." But this is rather out of the blue. A new law that doesn't seem to have any motivation beyond being mean, attempting to shame. If drug use were a known, rampant problem with this group of people, you might have something. Instead, this is like, "Y'know what? We're going to make these people jump another hurdle."

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