Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has signed legislation that would require thousands of people applying for welfare to pass a drug test before they could receive benefits.
The Republican-controlled Legislature passed the law over the opposition of Democrats.
Backers say it will ensure that welfare benefits are used for their intended purpose and not to subsidize drug use and criminal activity. Democrats said the measure places an unfair burden on the poor.
Gerry Weber of the Southern Poverty Law Center said the organization is prepared to file a lawsuit over the issue, but not until it is put into practice. It takes effect July 1.
A similar law in Florida took effect last July but was blocked by a federal judge in October.
At least two dozen states have proposed measures this year that would require drug tests for benefits.
source
The Republican-controlled Legislature passed the law over the opposition of Democrats.
Backers say it will ensure that welfare benefits are used for their intended purpose and not to subsidize drug use and criminal activity. Democrats said the measure places an unfair burden on the poor.
Gerry Weber of the Southern Poverty Law Center said the organization is prepared to file a lawsuit over the issue, but not until it is put into practice. It takes effect July 1.
A similar law in Florida took effect last July but was blocked by a federal judge in October.
At least two dozen states have proposed measures this year that would require drug tests for benefits.
source
Hoo boy!
Also, two DOZEN states? What the fuck is going on lately??
Companies like Florida Governor Rick Scott's Solantic.
I mean, some people have to take drug tests for jobs (I did...for a two week seasonal job at Tiffany & Co. seriously), and you can decline the test, you just don't get the job or the welfare in that case.
Someone should start a movement for this.
EDIT: People who get any kind of benefits from the government should have to take drug tests too. I'm looking at you Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Religion, Wall Street, 1%.... Honestly, I think a lot of "regular" people would support something like that, until they realized they would be on the hook for the tax benefits they get for their dependents, marital status, education, mortgages, etc. Oh well, if you're not on drugs, you have nothing to worry about, right?
Edited at 2012-04-17 12:34 am (UTC)
the problem isnt that because you had to everyone should have to, the problem is, in my belief anyone, these jobs shouldn't require drug testing anyway. who the flying fuck cares if the dude ringing me up at walmart kills a bong every night after work FFS.
Assholes.
Where are the jobs?
Ugh, this is going to be as that Food Stamps post.
Tbh, I'd rather someone who's addicted get welfare and have a chance to get treatment than end up homeless on the street and have to rely on crime, sex work or dealing in order to get by.
And instead of sending people with addictions to prison, send them to rehab instead. Our system is fucked up.
So how soon can I vote against Nathan Deal? This fucker has been consistently awful his entire time in office. And iirc, he was actually the more liberal option, last election. Somebody please tell me I get to vote against him this year and, I dunno, some black Democrat liberal former mayor of Atlanta is running for governor?
...yeah, I really need to check on that.
yeah didn't think so.
Protip for all these other legislatures considering similar bullshit: poor people on welfare do not owe you any explanation or justification for their lives/choices. Fuck off.
I do think if you have a certain fixed amount of money a month, government provided or not, and you are spending it on drugs rather than necessary food and shelter, you should probably look into getting help. But starving people out is not helping them. This is such a condescending thing.
Besides, America has a great program in place for helping people get past their drug addictions: it's called for-profit prison! :D
That is so fucked up.
They already tried this in Florida! And when they looked at the numbers, it turned out that there weren't enough people on welfare on drugs for the testing to be cost-effective! Ugh.
I swear some people would just love it if they could lock welfare recipients up and have only 'approved' items delivered to them, or something.
and have only 'approved' items delivered to themin forced labor/concentration camps, or something.There, I fixed that for you. :/
Edited at 2012-04-17 03:33 pm (UTC)