Drug Testing: Widely Publicized West Virginia Bill to Test People on Public Assistance Dies
A bill by West Virginia Republican state Del. Craig Blair that would have mandated random drug testing of people who receive food stamps or unemployment benefits received nationwide publicity, but no respect in Charleston, where the measure is stalled in committee and won't even get a hearing. A last chance effort by Blair to force the bill to a House floor vote Tuesday was defeated 70-30 on a straight party line vote.
The bill, HB 3007, picked up a handful of cosponsors, but also attracted heated opposition from welfare rights, civil liberties, and children's advocacy groups. Opponents argued that requiring drug testing to receive government benefits was most likely unconstitutional, more likely to impact poor families negatively than not, and just downright cruel.
Blair argued that the state was facing "a crisis" of drug abuse among state aid recipients, but never produced evidence to back up his claim. But he has still achieved something: Instant notoriety. Blair, who is not publicity-shy, created his own NotWithMyTaxDollars.com web site to push the bill, and has gotten national media attention. He claims his web site has 50,000 hits now.
But he has also suffered the slings and arrows of outraged fellow legislators. Del. Sally Susman (D-Raleigh) hand delivered a letter to Blair calling his bill the "most ridiculous" of the session. House Judiciary Chairwoman Carrie Webster (D-Kanawha) said of Blair that "he has an idea, but he has no plan," as she explained that many bills never make it to committee agendas.
Blair and his drug testing bill are gone for this year. But similar efforts remain alive in a handful of other states.
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redditWest Virginia... The 'Test-Me' State
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 8:36pmJeezus Christ... everyone knows the correct response would be to end welfare... not add another $300 for each illegal drug test to the welfare tab!
The easiest way to catch drug addicted welfare recipients is to have people show proof of employment when they go to church, the soup kitchen, and especially liquor stores were drug addicted welfare recipients tend to congregate.
This isn't the same bozo that came up with the 'Snitch Act' a while back is he. No, that idiot was named sensenbrenner or something... probably just an inbred cousin.
When we give billions to AIG
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 04/04/2009 - 10:02amWhen we give billions to AIG and Citigroup, and their executives don't get drug tested, how can we drug test people getting 150 or 200 dollars at most a week or two weeks?
This is one screwed up country we've found ourselves in. History will not be kind to the last 30 years, we really dropped the ball as a civilization.
In A Civilized Society...
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sun, 04/05/2009 - 5:58pmWe don't let our people starve to death. Even if they're drug abusers/prostitutes/unwed mothers or any other unsympathetic group. How do people like Blair get elected in the first place? I hate to think that there's a segment of the population he actually "represents."
Drug Testing Welfare Recipients
Comment posted by Ididn`tdrinkthekoolaide on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 9:17amYou ignorant liberals make me sick!!! First of all, this is in NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM part the Reagan induced, `War on Drugs`.
We can rehash the major cluster-f**k that happened in 1937 associated with marijuana.We can blame Reagan and his alcoholic, prescription-abusing socialite hypocritical wife for the ridiculous laws introduced along with the WOD, but the fact is that Craig Blair`s proposed bill is quite innovative. Let me be clear: I am a supporter of the legalization of marijuana. I feel it should be taxed and regulated along the same guidelines as alcohol. Those beliefs don`t stop me from seeing the beauty of this proposition.
I say, test every single person receiving ANY form of state assistance. Why should the hard working tax payers of this country continue to support shiftless deadbeats who, instead of seeking gainful employment and contribute to society, stand around high and/or drunk with their damn hands out?
We need a stupidity test for government .
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 3:19pmI sure hope this clowns political career is over.