Day: March 26, 2009

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Want government assistance? Just say no to drugs.

Lawmakers in at least eight states want recipients of food stamps, unemployment benefits or welfare to submit to random drug testing.

The effort comes as more Americans turn to these safety nets to ride out the recession. Poverty and civil liberties advocates fear the strategy could backfire, discouraging some people from seeking financial aid and making already desperate situations worse.

Those in favor of the drug tests say they are motivated out of a concern for their constituents’ health and ability to put themselves on more solid financial footing once the economy rebounds. But proponents concede they also want to send a message: you don’t get something for nothing.

"Nobody’s being forced into these assistance programs," said Craig Blair, a Republican in the West Virginia Legislature who has created a Web site – notwithmytaxdollars.com – that bears a bobble-headed likeness of himself advocating this position. "If so many jobs require random drug tests these days, why not these benefits?"

States consider drug tests for welfare recipients from WBBM 780 – Chicago’s #1 source for local news, traffic, and weather.  Although this story is from WV, there just happens to be a state or two between WV & Illinois,  local is being used pretty loosely here.

The Gentleman from WV’s website, the bill

I support this bill incase you were wondering.

Vernon Davis
422 N. 40th St.
Omaha, NE 68114
402-516-4401
 

May the SunShine on your eyes today. Because you are bright as the moon on a clear summer day!!!!