Harbin bill would require drug tests for benefits

fayettedailynews.com ^ | 2/15/2010 | Staff

[Red in Blue PA]

ATLANTA -- If you want an unemployment check or other state benefits, be prepared to take a drug test if the General Assembly passes bi-partisan legislation Rep. Ben Harbin introduced Thursday. House Bill 1163 drew immediate opposition from labor and advocacy groups.

Harbin, an Evans Republican, chairs the House Appropriations Committee that writes the budget, but he said he's not trying to save money by keeping people off the dole.

Moments before the House passed an adjustment to the current year's budget that included more than $1 billion in cuts, his bill was assigned to the Industrial Relations Committee. Next year's budget will have deeper cuts.

In addition to the state's general budget troubles, the separate trust fund that pays unemployment benefits is essentially broke, having been propped up by a loan from the federal government.

Harbin said the bill aims to ensure those getting assistance remain focused on finding a job.

[oh8eleven]

If you want an unemployment check or other state benefits ...
I thought unemployment was paid for by the company doing the downsizing?

[RebelTXRose]

The companies contribute to a fund with state unemployment taxes.

I think this is great! A drug test to get benefits should at least lower some other costs - like medical costs related to illegal drugs. I wonder how much fraud would disappear if this were implemented in all states.

[tatsinfla]

i agree that anyone in any state signing up for any kind of freebies should take a drug test....and not just once...

[NEMDF]

Employers pay into a state fund that is like an insurance pool. Their “premiums” can be adjusted annually if they have unusual experience (like laying off higher than a certain percent of workers). The actual benefit funds for the unemployment checks come from the state.

[oh8eleven]

Thanks ...

[Red in Blue PA]

3 States (AK, NJ, and PA) actually take money out of employees paychecks for PA-UC.

[pnh102]

I'd expand this to legal drugs too. People who can afford to buy cigarettes or alcohol do not need government checks.

On top of that, I'd have any welfare (not UC) recipient have their records cross checked with broadband providers, cell phone providers and other luxury subscription services and if they have any of these things, no checks for them.

[AppyPappy]

What? Do you want to penalize a working mother trying to feed 12 kids because she smokes a little medicinal marijuana now and again because of her Glaucoma? That is probably 99% of Welfare recipients who use drugs. /Libertarian

[microgood]

Drug tests are unconstitutional without probable cause. But since, all drug warriors hate the Constitution with a passion, this is not a problem for them.

[goseminoles]

I couldn’t disagree more.

[FrankR]

"Harbin bill would require drug tests for benefits"

I support that 10,000%. Unemployment, welfare, section 8, all of it.

And add to that, these unwed mothers on subsistence with a bunch of kids should be required to show school attendence records for each kid, and each kid should maintain a C or better average to get the money.

We all have to meet conditions to get OUR money, yet those people get OUR money without conditions...WTF.

And I don't really give a damn what the labor (unions) and advocacy (drugs) groups think or say, they are citizens just like the rest of us, and we are a nation of laws, not men.

Go for it Congressman Harbin, go for it.

[pnh102]

I couldn’t disagree more.

So taxpayers should be paying for booze, smokes, cell phones and internet for people on welfare?

[FrankR]

furthermore, to make his point, if the welfare wonks don't have to take a drug test to get paid, then introduce a bill making drug tests illegal for everybody...government and private sector. That should cause enough uproar to consider the original alternative.

The left's "hot button" is "fair"...so let's make it fair.../sarc

[Sir Gawain]

Mandatory drug tests for legislators too.

[Sir Gawain]

AppyPappy wins by TKO against Strawman. 1st Round.

[dfwgator]

You take the King’s coin, you do the King’s bidding.

[microgood]

You take the King’s coin, you do the King’s bidding.

Maybe in a Kingdom, but not in a Constitutional Republic. Here the President is not my leader, he is my employee. Americans do not have leaders (except for family/marriage, etc).

[cva66snipe]

I think this is great! A drug test to get benefits should at least lower some other costs - like medical costs related to illegal drugs. I wonder how much fraud would disappear if this were implemented in all states.

Yea so do I Wiz on that thing called the Constitution and Bill of Rights any how right? HAIL TO BIG BROTHER AND THRE NANNY STATE! Why let's see we can have mandatory breath analyzers for driving the car, mandatory electricity & water restrictions and camera in the home to enforce governments for our own good mandated behavior laws. Oh it's such a wonderful idea our beloved elected are so concerned about our health.

Are you running for Fat Nazi in your district? Or Green Policeman? You know the government cop who tells people too loose weight and patrols fast food joints? Or says no meat on Monday. Hey I hear Cambridge, Mass is an ideal place for those who just have to have an all seeing eye running their and their neighbors life. /sarcasm

BTW be careful what you wish for. I am not an illegal drug user as such. But you may well be. Ever take a mild pain pill not prescribed to you in an emergency for say a bad back ache on a weekend? A pill you have taken before that maybe a spouse had one of? Most persons in the nation do as much. But I'll just be @@mned if I want mandatory drug testing done by our government on private citizens for any reasons except in cases involving national security. The governemt that governs the least governe the best. You may ber ready for Big Brother to micro-manage your life but many more like myself JUST SAY NO! to Nanny State.

[goseminoles]

I don’t disagree with the idea. However, where would this stop? UA’s for Social Security benefits. Would the ua’s turn into credit checks, background checks, visits to your house by unemployment police? Heck, let’s open a new agency to address this issue.
And drug tests are about 30.00. Hardly a wise use of money for 100-200 bucks a week.