ATLANTA - A Republican lawmaker is pushing legislation that would require random drug tests for recipients of public assistance, like unemployment benefits and food stamps.
The bill from state Rep. Michael Harden would strip benefits from anyone who fails a drug test. Benefits could be restored after they pass another test. A second failed drug test would result in losing aid for two years.
Recipients would pay for the tests or the costs could be deducted from their benefits.
Harden, of Toccoa, said the bill is designed to ensure that "taxpayers aren't subsidizing illegal activity."
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It's about time....HOWEVER, I don't feel that people on unemployment should be tested. These people worked at their jobs and if they are laid off they are entitled to their benefits. The drug testing SHOULD BE in place for ANYONE on public assistance. These programs are being abused and that's what infuriates me as a taxpayer. These programs should also have more guidelines on them so that there aren't people just living off these programs and feeling that they are entitled to taxpayers monies.
slbouch, I know some people who have been riding unemployment for almost 2 years and still work under the table. Yes they should be tested after a reasonable period also, say 6 months. That would stop a lot of the chronic theft of our tax money. Whether you realize it or not those unemployment benefits are made up in everything you buy!!
Sounds good to me. Should do a drug test when someone renews their driver's license.
Qhat age would tests be required? For instance, a family of 6 (normal) A mother and five children, who gets drug tested? Second question is how much does it cost for a test now and later when it is law? Hopefully Harden won't do like they always do and pass a bill and allow prices to shoot thru the roof almost immediately. I would be all for it if all members of the legislature were required to take the same test and a lie detector test also.
What is really needed is to stop the chronic abusers who work just long enough to be eligible then quit or get fired and draw unemployment until it runs out then work only the required amount of time to draw it again. Those people should be flagged, investigated and tested. I have no problem with a legitimate need but a society leech should not be eligible for those benefits after abusing them.
My vote is YES!!! If they can afford to buy drugs then they have plenty of money to feed their kids. For unemployment those people just need to hit the streets looking for jobs instead of sitting at home on their butts doing drugs anyways.
This is great news I am all for it.
I Have been saying this for years now if you can afford drugs you can afford to be off the public assistance programs.. including unemployment
& yes i can do it when i renew my DL also no problems for me. Go for it
Sounds good to me. Those who are against this are those who are abusing the system.
Best Idea that has never passed. Get Aid, Get tested. Kinda goes great with the Fair Tax. That would cut down on a lot of EPT cards
What about the innocent children being fed by these unemployment payments? What will become of them?
Wow, I am so impressed with our legislators!
I thought they were beyond stupid, but this is a new low!
How much will all this drug testing cost Huh?
What part of the legislation would raise the revenue?
Is this an unfunded mandate?
So a poor guy who loses his job because the Gingrich congress shipped our jobs overseas (that is what lead to all this economic breakdown, it's been building since then) this poor fool accepts a hit on a little joint from a friend and then loses his unemployment so he HAS TO TURN TO CRIME to survive and then he gets caught and costs the state $20k per year in jail.
Georgia-Dumbest state in the nation.
If you are a drug addict, you need to be identified and offered help. Sometimes being faced with the risk of losing what little you have is just what takes to get people to make a change.
I am all for drug testing any and all recipients of any form of federal, state, or local aid including, but not limited to unemployment.
humbly,
Bobby
ChipShirley - If you are on "assistance", you don't have any money for drugs. And so, knowing that you will be randomly tested for same, means you had better not "accepts a hit on a little joint". The children go to a family member, not living in the same house, along with their food help, and you lose your check. Sounds pretty good to me.
You noticed that ChipShirley said.."unemployment payments". Hey, If you are not using illegal drugs. What is the bid deal! You still will receive that check and you can feed your poor children.
chipshirley, By most of your posted opinions there is an indication that anything that would cause problem or change your way of life is a NO NO.
There is nothing in the bill to instruct or fund an effort by sthe state employees who do the testing to take children involve out of the home and make sure they are fed and cared for.
The sad person who has lost a job and their unemployment might well use their children as prostitutes to survive!
What about that?
A law can have all the good intentions in the world and still have evil results.
That is this.
chipshirley, Who really give a poo for anybody that uses drugs. If they continue to break the law of this country, that is their problem. Drugs is the problem. Period. The up bring of children should not be placed on the shoulders of decent, law biding tax paying citizens. Another Period.
The cost of the drug test are low and affordable. The children are not going to go hungry if the government check is 10 dollars less. When you go to the store and see ebt cards are paying for 10 is not a lot. The DHR or who ever is giving the assistance out can administer the test, so no more money is involved. It sounds like to me the the government is finally wising up and making people accountable for themselves. My job requires me to pass all drug test any time im requested, the same should be for them. If they are to lazy to work than i guess sitting at home collecting unemployment and ebt is their job and should be held to the same level.
CobaltGeorge
What business does the government have nosing around inside people's bodies anyway?
Paul Broun sponsored and voted for a bill to legalize marijuana for medicine.
Rush Limbaugh would have been kicked off of unemployment if he'd been on it for his oxy cotin conviction a few years ago.
Do you care about them?
Rush was on a legal drug, kick it and do you really think he is worried about unemployment today. I think he is a great person to have done that. How many illegal users can say the same? If this so called corrupt president and his side kicks pass the health care enema, the government will be in all parts of your body real soon. Lets see what you will say then.
CobaltGeorge
Wow, you really did drink the 'dittos'.
Rush Limbaugh was convicted of breaking the law and getting dozens of prescriptions from different doctors (without letting the others know) for Oxy Cotin.
Since you hate druggies so much you probably don't know about Oxy Cotin...
Oxy Cotin is the preferred drug (if they can get it) for all of the hardest drug addicts. Heroin, cocaine and crystal meth addicts all prefer Oxy Cotin when they can get it illegally exactly the way Rush did.
That is the God's honest truth.
And by the way, you say Rush would never have to worry about unemployment...Right....And the absolute fact is that if he hadn't had millions of dollars to drag out his case and wear down the justice system he would be inside a state penitentiary right now.
Anyone who isn't rich and does what he did serves real prison time. You just call up your state prosecutor and ask. It's a fact.
Chipshirley,
Don't worry about the children, we already have a program in effect to deal with the welfare of children. It is called DFACS in Georgia. The department of family and children services will remove the children from home if the family can no longer adequately provide for them.
So, there is no need to write a special provision in the bill for a service that already exists.
Thanks,
Bobby
Oh, and yes anyone who uses drugs illegally should be held accountable for their actions, including rush.
chip, if you really knew what your were talking about it's oxycontin not Oxy Cotin and if I have to pass a drug test to work then you should to get benefits. DFAC's is already set up to deal with the children and the people who have these problems have already pawned their children off on a relative or friend anyway. Your arguements hold about as much water as a colander! I don't care if you're Rush Limburger or John Doe living in the projects, if you are on any type aid and test positive for drugs you should lose it. How are you going to get a job when you can't pass a drug test?? Come on, lay some more of that rocket science on us!
In general guys, don't worry about poor people starving, it is nearly impossible to do in America. There are so many resources available, you'd have to be determined to starve to death.
"What about the innocent children being fed by these unemployment payments? What will become of them?"
Great point chipshirley, because we all know that these drug users on unemployment make sure the kids are fed before they would ever purchase illegal drugs. I know that it is fruitless to attempt to debate this with you, but I can't think of one reason that this shouldn't pass if it can be done cost-effectively.
I was once a liberal minded fellow myself. But, over 3 years, 2 months, 1 week and 2 days ago I got clean and sober. I haven't had an oxycontin, drink, cigarette, joint, or line of cocaine since. For some reason, over that same period of time I've steadily moved to the "right." Weird, huh?
I don't feel that the taxpayers owe me a dime to support an illegal drug habit and I don't feel that we should subsidize anyone's illegal drug usage if they can't "pee clean", including Rush. I agree that it isn't the govt's business what you do with your body...until you accept govt aid.
What a load of bull. Why doesn't this ignorant state turn down all this federal money Huh?
And it will be federal money that builds us ne reservoirs that we're desperate for too.
And why didn't W the dummy give us all the money President Obama has for the new nuclear reactor that Republicans are supposedly for.
This man is saving America and most Georgians are drunk on the lies of the Talk Bombers.
Paul Broun sponsored and voted for a bill to legalize marijuana for medicine.
Rush Limbaugh would have been kicked off of unemployment if he'd been on it for his oxy cotin conviction a few years ago.
Restored benefits for passing a drug test? No aid for 2 years? Entitled to benefits? This is madness. Stop the handouts and there is no need for drug testing. People aren't entitled to squat. America can embrace social Darwinism soon or our creditors will force it upon us later.
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