Free Republic

BATON ROUGE -- Having failed multiple times to get approval for his proposal to expand drug testing of public assistance recipients, Rep. John LaBruzzo retooled the bill Wednesday to focus on pregnant women. With that strategic shift, the House Health and Welfare Committee voted without dissent to require that the state test 20 percent of those who receive aid from the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program or the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant Program. The priority would be on pregnant women, and no one who tests positive would lose benefits as long as they enter state-paid treatment programs....

BATON ROUGE -- A proposal to require drug testing of adult applicants for cash public assistance programs died by a single vote today in a House committee. The House Health and Welfare Committee's action leaves in place the state's present use of questionnaires to screen applicants for public assistance, with state employees ordering laboratory drug tests for applicants who demonstrate the possibility of testing positive. Applicants who test positive must undergo state-paid treatment plans to receive benefits. Rep. John LaBruzzo, R-Metairie, wanted to require drug testing of all applicants and leave in place the treatment requirements for anyone who tested...

Worried that welfare costs are rising as the number of taxpayers declines, state Rep. John LaBruzzo, R-Metairie, said Tuesday he is studying a plan to pay poor women $1,000 to have their Fallopian tubes tied.