Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy
South Carolina's Republican Gov. Nikki Haley wants to drug test unemployment recipients before they can receive benefits, she told a group of supporters last Thursday, and she wants it so bad she was willing to resort to lying about the extent of the problem.
Nikki Haley (image via Wikimedia)
As for why South Carolina needs to drug test unemployment applicants, Haley claimed that huge numbers of applicants for jobs at the Savannah River Site nuclear facility failed post-interview drug tests.
"Down on River Site, they were hiring a few hundred people, and when we sat down and talked to them -- this was back before the campaign -- when we sat down and talked to them, they said of everybody they interviewed, half of them failed a drug test, and of the half that was left, of that 50%, the other half couldn't read and write properly," Haley said."That's what we have in South Carolina," she continued. "We don't have an unemployment problem. We have an education and poverty problem."
But as the Huffington Post reported Friday, Haley was full of it. The Post talked to Jim Giusti, a spokesman for the Department of Energy, which runs the facility. He said he had no idea what Haley was talking about.
"Half the people who applied for a job last year or year 2009 did not fail the drug test," Giusti said. "At the peak of hiring under the Recovery Act we had less than 1% of those hired test positive." And the River Site doesn't even test applicants, Giusti added. "We only test them when they have been accepted," he said.
South Carolina does not have a demonstrable problem with drugged out unemployed workers. What it does have is an unemployment rate of 10.9% and an unwillingness to spend state money to support the unemployed. In June, Gov. Haley signed into law a bill cutting unemployment benefits from 26 to 20 weeks while lowering unemployment taxes on businesses.
At least four other Republican controlled states have slashed the length of time out of work people can receive unemployment benefits, but no state has yet to pass a law requiring drug testing for unemployment beneficiaries, although several have been introduced this year. Republican-controlled Wisconsin and Indiana have passed laws that cut unemployment benefits for job applicants who fail a drug test.
If Gov. Haley's fictions about drugged out workers are the best that proponents of drug testing the unemployed can do, perhaps the South Carolina legislature will reject her welfare for drug testing labs proposal.
Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.
Comments
Drug testing
Let's do it for every one that works for the Government too!!!! They make top $ for doing NO WORK!!! If I smoke pot I can't collect unemployment? I PAID for this insurance!! Then I put into Social Security that I'll never collect!!! SCREW YOU!!! PISS IN MY CUP!!!!
In reply to Drug testing by Jim-Z (not verified)
Sorry, Jim-Z, for the most
Sorry, Jim-Z, for the most part I agree with you, however, a employee doesn't pay into their unemployment insurance. That is 100% paid by the employer. A employee pays Social Security and Medicare taxes contributions that are 100% matched by your employer. Federal withholding is 100 % paid by a employee. I don't see employment insurance compensation as a "welfare" payment. You are required to work for a set # of hours and have a acceptable reason for being unemployed. It's INSURANCE to assist someone in re-employment . The drug testing is BS. Jim-Z, as a employer, I don't care if you spark one up. Your time is your time. Just make sure when you punch in your clean and sober and stay that way until you punch out. If something where to happen on the JOB I would require a test. If positive your fired and will probably not be able to receive employment insurance anyway. Now "welfare" handouts are another story. No prior employment needed. Test each applicant, and if approve yearly testing when the recipients annual review is due. I wonder how much of the statement she made with regards to illiteracy is true. That could be the possible reason for the high unemployment rate. Sadly, this politician is just looking at what will save the "State" money and not what the PEOPLE need most from the state. I don't foresee another term for this person.
Wow. That is sad. Why don't
Wow. That is sad. Why don't you save the money you would waste on drug testing and use it to invest in doing some research before fabricating bogus statistics to support your deceit-driven, dishonest attempt to take away the money that HONEST citizens who've fallen on hard times need in order to get their lives on track, to avoid homelessness, to gain some security and happiness and comfort. Have some compassion for your fellow human beings.
Rick Scott is doing this, too
And his wife owns the company that does the testing. Just another way for the rich to take money from the poor, really. Hate to take a populist stance but elitism is just so disgusting.
Drug testing
Typical Republican bullshit, blame everyone else for their distorted views!
.....
first of all I live in South Carolina. We have had a medicinal marijuana act passed since 1980 but never got publiciced. I hate living here. The Cops are so corrupt, We keep allowing our state Government to pass laws that suppress our rights even more. Can't even flex our rights here. I told a cop he can't search my car without a warrant and he searched anyway(Found nothing). I hate how this state is. We just now repealed the subversive group act if that says anything
Where are the Anti-Prohibitionists?
Repeatedly the prohibitionists, who are frequently lawmakers, repeat the reefer madness lies of the 1930's and we the people swallow it hook, line, and sinker. In my estimation NORML is a cover your ass group that has done very little to bring out the truth about marijuana. Millions of people do not even realize that industrial hemp has nothing to do with the product that is smoked. Law enforcement officials actually believe that you can grow quality marijuana in a field of hemp! Truth is, that is the one place it can not grow. Pollen would degrade the product to an unusable substance. When the diesel engine was invented, hemp oil was the fuel that powered it. Anyway, why doesn't some artist draw a real nice bud of MMJ and proclaim it the symbol of anti-prohibition and show that MARIJUANA HAS NOT EVER TAKEN A LIFE! It is a safe substance when used responsibly by adults. In Europe a device has been developed that takes the sweat off one's finger and can gage recent marijuana use. This would allow the police to arrest impaired drivers. Come on those who claim to be pro marijuana! It's time to stand up for the most beneficial plant on the face of the earth!. There are a whole lot of intelligent people that know marijuana is not a bad thing. I can't believe that we skirt around this generation after generation. It is time to make the public aware throughout the USA that crimes involving marijuana are man made and should be reevaluated. Fact: Prohibition does not, can not, and will not work. I am 50 and without a grassroots revolt, I do not believe marijuana will ever be accepted in society.
"The government's line is that the use of marihuana leads to more dangerous drugs, the fact is that the lack of marihuana leads to dangerous drugs." - Dr. David Smith, Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic
In reply to Where are the Anti-Prohibitionists? by disgusted (not verified)
I do hope your wrong and it
I do hope your wrong and it is accepted. I am standing and stating that I have sparked up.... 30 years ago and decided "not for me". However I have done my research and the benefits that society will receive if it becomes legal are paramount. It could very well change our way of life. If society pulls their heads out (pardon the pun) they will see how it is the most universal plant in nature. From medical benefits to its use in home construction. If everyone took the time and did some homework , it would become legal overnight. PROHIBITION is a invasion upon my life and my rights. Society is being screwed by the fear mongers who only watch shadows on the wall. We who have been enlightened will do everything to bring them out into the sun but we can never return to cave..
Like I've said.....
There's nothing much worse than a hungry, broke, drug addict. They will find way's to survive, whether violently, or non-violently depends on the level of desperation. Private business may get away with it, because they're private, government has that pesky constitution to deal with. You know the illegal search, the testifying against yourself, the privacy, right's that are inalienable. Maybe she should read the constitution, the part that say's "elected officials that enact unconstitutional laws, no longer represent the US government". As in, auto-resign.
MAD AS HELL
IT IS NOT RIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS PAIN DR.
THEY DO PEE TEST YES MINE WAS 15 THEN IT JUMP UP TO 96 IN 2 WEEK .
SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT .THERE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN CLEAN NOW 125 DAY.
AND NOW THIS PAIN DR SAID THEY CAN'T SEE ANY MORE BECAUSE OF IT .THE PEE TESTING THEY DO .IT NOT RIGHT AND ON TOP OF THAT I AM LOSING MY DR BECAUSE OF THIS DR I AM MAD AS HELL BECAUSE OF THIS,
WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT,
i thank the pee test is
i thank the pee test is bullshit because it don't work.
because when people don't do drugs. and it said you are doing drugs. it is not right.
it needs to be fix. and look at the Dr 's who dose this test.
one way are other i am going to perfect that the pee tests are not right
are i will get a lawyer to do for me because something going on some were.
Add new comment