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Legislators seeking drug testing for welfare recipients
By Chris Roark, croark@starlocalnews.com
Government officials are sending a message to welfare and unemployment recipients: you can use it, but don’t use drugs.
Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst called for the Texas Legislature to enact reforms to welfare and unemployment programs when it convenes Jan. 8.
Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) has been a driving force behind this effort. Monday, she pre-filed Senate Bill 11, which calls for drug testing for those applying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Nelson said it’s important that benefit recipients are using the money to improve their lives and not to support addictions, such as drugs, cigarettes or gambling.
“We need to ensure that individuals receiving these public benefits are on a true path to self-sufficiency and drug free in keeping with the mission of this program,” said Nelson, who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. “Taxpayer dollars should not be used to subsidize a person's drug habit -- a destructive barrier to achieving independence.”
If Texas passes this law, it would be the eighth state to do so, and so far at least 28 states have proposed such laws in 2012, according to information provided by Nelson’s office.
More than 100,000 Texas residents are enrolled in TANF at a cost of almost $90 million a year.
Other components of SB 11 are:
*Strengthening work and job training requirements
*Tightening policies to prevent people from using TANF money to purchase alcohol, tobacco and other non-allowable items
*Requiring the Committee on Health and Human Services to study the feasibility of providing TANF benefits through an electronic voucher and report its findings by Sept. 1, 2014
*Disqualifying applicants testing positive for drug use, and their families, from TANF for 12months, but allows applicants to reapply after 6 months if they have completed, or are enrolled in, a substance abuse treatment program. Applicants who fail the drug test three times, and their families, are permanently ineligible from TANF.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
nurse08 wrote on Nov 17, 2012 2:03 PM:
" No one is public shaming you, it's the same as being tested for a job. Is that calling you a criminal, too?
Way too many people are using and abusing the system and it needs to stop. These are the people to blame. Those that really need assistance will still get it. But those who use the money for drugs and alcohol instead of food and clothing for their children should not get it. "
Way too many people are using and abusing the system and it needs to stop. These are the people to blame. Those that really need assistance will still get it. But those who use the money for drugs and alcohol instead of food and clothing for their children should not get it. "
JGonzalez wrote on Nov 19, 2012 12:41 PM:
" If you are not a drug user you have nothing to worry about. If you are a taxpayer you know that our leaders are trying to protect tax dollars for the benefit of everyone. I believe "unannounced" drug tests should be adminstered to all persons receiving any type of assistance. Furthermore, if you are not working you should work at an unempoyment office, state government office or some other place as a volunteer to earn your benefits. Way to go leaders!!! "
kimcourt wrote on Nov 24, 2012 3:21 AM:
" wow...i cant smoke cigerettes...what the hell is ths? what is this world coming too? really..... i understand drug use...but cigerettes...out of hand... "
jazabelz wrote on Nov 24, 2012 9:35 AM:
" There are several things to consider regarding this legislation:
1. How much is this going to cost. Other states that have implemented this (Florida) have spent tens of millions of dollars on testing for welfare and unemployment and the percentage of those using drugs has been miniscule!
2. I realize a significant number of people consider drug addiction a crime or sin instead of an illness. For othe very few number of people receiving welfare who are addicted they will then have to turn to crime in order to get their fix. That in turn will lead to more demand for jails/prison and more tax payer money to support. Seems we are cutting off our noses to spite our faces by doing this. Instead we should be offering more drug abuse health services to help these people.
3. Since the Legislators (and this is only happening in Republican dominated states) want to test recipients of governmental support, then we should also test all city, county and state employees including the governor who has had drug addiction problems with pain medication. They are on the government dole for even more money than welfare recipients -- why should they be exempt.
4. Perhaps we should test for alcohol too. Bet the majority of state legislators would fail this test.
5. Who benefits from all the money spent on testing? Do they donate to any of the state legislators campaigns or the Governors?
6. The majority of people on welfare are White and live in the south. Southern states receive more Federal money back to their states than they contribute.
7. How can the state under Perry and Dewhurst continue to cut education and training in Texas and expect more people to be self-supporting. If they aren't educated, they aren't eligilble for decent paying jobs which would not only keep them off welfare, but would add to the economy of the state.
This is a complete waste of taxpayers money! "
1. How much is this going to cost. Other states that have implemented this (Florida) have spent tens of millions of dollars on testing for welfare and unemployment and the percentage of those using drugs has been miniscule!
2. I realize a significant number of people consider drug addiction a crime or sin instead of an illness. For othe very few number of people receiving welfare who are addicted they will then have to turn to crime in order to get their fix. That in turn will lead to more demand for jails/prison and more tax payer money to support. Seems we are cutting off our noses to spite our faces by doing this. Instead we should be offering more drug abuse health services to help these people.
3. Since the Legislators (and this is only happening in Republican dominated states) want to test recipients of governmental support, then we should also test all city, county and state employees including the governor who has had drug addiction problems with pain medication. They are on the government dole for even more money than welfare recipients -- why should they be exempt.
4. Perhaps we should test for alcohol too. Bet the majority of state legislators would fail this test.
5. Who benefits from all the money spent on testing? Do they donate to any of the state legislators campaigns or the Governors?
6. The majority of people on welfare are White and live in the south. Southern states receive more Federal money back to their states than they contribute.
7. How can the state under Perry and Dewhurst continue to cut education and training in Texas and expect more people to be self-supporting. If they aren't educated, they aren't eligilble for decent paying jobs which would not only keep them off welfare, but would add to the economy of the state.
This is a complete waste of taxpayers money! "
perkinstexas wrote on Nov 24, 2012 5:53 PM:
" Jane, this is a real red meat issue. Too bad drug testing is a waste of taxpayer dollars.
Other states have tried this and found the cost to administer the drug testing program to be higher than the "benefit" of removing TANF recipients.
Around 2% of recipients were "guilty" but all 100% are tested at our expense. "
Other states have tried this and found the cost to administer the drug testing program to be higher than the "benefit" of removing TANF recipients.
Around 2% of recipients were "guilty" but all 100% are tested at our expense. "
Choderus wrote on Dec 5, 2012 2:54 PM:
" JGonzales wrote: " If you are not a drug user you have nothing to worry about."
Yes, again, the old "If you are not doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about" argument rises its ignorant head again. That's the same shuck-and-jive that citizens always get when their rights are being nibbled away by one form of government or another. "
Yes, again, the old "If you are not doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about" argument rises its ignorant head again. That's the same shuck-and-jive that citizens always get when their rights are being nibbled away by one form of government or another. "
Choderus wrote on Dec 5, 2012 2:56 PM:
" This is nothing more than vote-pandering by politicians and it's getting eaten up by the sheep like grass on a rainy April morning. "
MABordes wrote on Dec 17, 2012 10:28 AM:
" This idea can't be taken seriously, the cost of implementing the program does not justify the savings.You will spend more implementing the program than you will in saving the state money. Like stepping over a dollar to pick up a nickel. REALLY!
That is an irresponsible waste of taxpayer dollars, the money could be put to better use, besides drug dependancy is an ILLNESS so now we think it is wise to further punish those who are SICK?
This idea is stupid and if you are going to test them than test all state employees from the Gov on down.. "
That is an irresponsible waste of taxpayer dollars, the money could be put to better use, besides drug dependancy is an ILLNESS so now we think it is wise to further punish those who are SICK?
This idea is stupid and if you are going to test them than test all state employees from the Gov on down.. "
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Now I have to go take a drug test .. Like I'm a criminal or something.. All for a really cruddy little check that probably won't even cover my phone bill... Thanks for publically Shaming me for getting laid off. Jerks "