Let us take time and look what’s @t issue the government or should I say the people have the right to not spend tax money on criminals. . Take a look at student loan system simple if you have a Conviction for drugs then you not eligible for benefits. But that’s just it where is the due process that’s why we have laws on the books. How do set the standard for which drugs and at what levels keep somebody off the system. Here a wild look somebody takes a trip to a country (or state) where it is legal to smoke weed returns to their home state and has to apply for benefits they will test positive and be denied even though no laws were broken? It not the role of the government to play moral police if you take tax money from them without passing a test then the same standards should work when they need help.

if I have to take a drug test to get a job (=money), then the welfare recipients ought to do so as well. Too bad!

In theory, yes, welfare recipients should not be spending their checks on drugs. However, legal drugs in the form of painkillers are more abused now than illegal drugs. So those people will still be slipping through the system.

Any drug test I've had for a job, if your taking any type of narcotic , you have to prove that you have a prescription for that drug. I think it's way past time for this new law!

Drug test, yes. The recipient paying for it, no. How many test will the recipient have to take? Sure $17 isn't much money to most, but it will add up if there are multiple tests in, say a months time. There is a reason why they are on welfare and it isn't because they have expendable money. Just saying.

$17 is gas money to get to work or school, it's food on the table, a chunk of the cost for the new shoes your child desperately needs. It doesn't seem like much, but really, to some, it is.

I am for the Drug Testing to qualify for welfare benefits. However, if the rational is to save tax payers money, I believe we should cover the $17 for drug testing and refund that money back to those that pass as a form of reward for being clean. The cost to taxpayers would still be substantially low in comparison to what is being dished out to support illegal habits. But, that doesn't cure the problem of Welfare Abuse where Food Stamps are being sold so that there will be money available to the welfare recipient to purchase Alcohol & Nicotine.

I THINK THEY SHOULD BE TESTED BUT NOT HAVE TO PAY. AND WHAT IF THEY TEST POSITIVE. ARE THE CHILDREN TO BE DENIED?

There has been several studies done, showing that drug testing is not a good use of money for this particular population. It costs more money to do the drug tests than the very limited money that the state saves by withholding benefits to the very few people who test positive. If we are going to test welfare recipients, why not also test our elected representatives, or anyone else on the state payroll?

I have to take a drug test to get a job that pays into the welfare system. All welfare benefit receipients should be required to take a drug test. No exceptions.

The constitutional issue at stake is that we are protected against unreasonable search and seizure. The fact that someone is appying for public assistance does not constitute sufficient cause for such a search. That this might set precedence and lower the bar for showing just cause is reason enough to oppose it. We must protect our individual liberties, rather than risk them for the small savings and emotional satisfaction that might come from preventing a few addicts from mis-using our tax dollars.

I think it's a stupid idea based on a false premise: That welfare recipients are more likely to do drugs than say, college students. That's really the group who should be tested.

I think welfare recepienst should be tested at the tax payers expense, every month to qualify for benefits. I know there are some welfare families who receive tax payer help fraudulently, ie Baby daddy living in the house and should support his own children. And because more than likely, Momma is getting section 8 assistance for housing, medicaid, help with utilities, and food stamps, no male whether baby daddy or boyfriend should be allowed to live in said house that is being subsidized by the taxpayer. That also includes subsidized internet and cell phone. What the hell is this all about??? If a woman shows up with A WEAVE, FALSE FINGERNAILS AND A CELL PHONE, she should be denied benefits immediately. Signed: not a hater, but sick of government handouts and abuse.

I think this law violates the Constitution. A an almost exact law was passed and Florida and struck down by a federal judge (who was appointed by George W. Bush, no less). This law requires the person on TANF/SNAP benefits to pay out $17 for a drug test. Now, that in and off itself is unfair. Sure, people can say that welfare recipients should be tested because others are tested for their job. But, are you required to pay the fees for those tests? No. $17 can be a hardship for a family right now. Also, it is NOT right that the government of the State is singling out people on Welfare as people who use drugs. I think it is very stereotypical to say that people who use drugs receive benefits and vice-versa. If the law is based on that premise it should be struck down immediately. Next, this program will not save the state a penny; in fact it may actually cost the state more money. The $17 is a subsidized rate for these tests. The state is still putting out additional money for drug tests (usually about $150-200). Now, even if 2% of welfare recipients are denied because of drugs (and also, this only covers new recipients, not current families), the State will still loose money in excess of $2.1-3.2 million a year. That is money that could be used to help needy families. This is a violation of rights and will be treated as such by the federal courts.

teat

that should be test - teat is something else entirelyt

@ JH Wilson, it's not right to judge or tell someone what food to purchase. There was a time that I needed foodstamps during the last couple of years. I purchased organic food and fresh food for my family. I was also riding in a SUV (but we purchased it on trade). You never know someone's situation. We also work very hard but needed the help. Don't judge so quickly.

I have no problem with welfare recipients being tested, I just wonder why the ammendment to have legislators tested as well failed. After all legislators are on the tax payers dime as well. But, I guess we can wait until the next DWI arrest, or cocaine party at the strip club for that.

Test 'em! No pass, no pay!

The $17 is refundable IF they pass the test. It is time for taxpayers to wise up and stop funding the drug users. Yes, there will be people who fall through the cracks, but, there will always be people falling through the cracks. I think the legislators should take the test too, all politicians should, too bad there is no Moral Test for politicians to take.

I would agree with this rule, under one condition. I would require all candidates for public office be required to submit to a drug test, also. In addition, I would recommend that all their family members be required to submit to a drug test. The candidates must also be required to submit their federal and state tax records for the last 10 years if they are older than 30 years and provide any information about any outstanding personal and private loans, including student and business loans. This should start with the governor and his family and extend all the way to school board members as well as all other local government leaders.

It's a good idea due to the large amount of drug/alcohol abusers receiving assistance, however, when one is drug tested for jobs, the companies pay for it, so how will nondrug/alcohol abusers receiving assistance pay for a test? $17.00 could really be all a family has even for a few days! Those who don't live in despair find it hard to relate, but it happens to many families, more so these days w/ the economy in such poor shape. But it angers me when the alcoholic woman in my neighborhood brags about receiving assistance, begs people to go to the store w/ her so she can buy them groceries on her EBT card & pay her cash that they would've spent on groceries, so she can then go buy liquor & Redline energy shots to mix w/ her liquor (that she starts drinking first thing each morning) to mask the drink while she drives her little boy around drunk. That is, when she bothers to pay attention to him, the neighborhood is mostly raising him! He's always hungry because she is using the food money for him for other things, that's when I feel that yes, testing should happen. But also consider that drugs only stay in one's system a certain amount of time for each, including alcohol & there are ways for people to abuse drugs & still pass tests. Until ALL the kinks are worked out, it's sort of a waste of time & money all the way around. Just some food for thought...

I'm surprised how many people voted yes. Most people can't relate to being on welfare. And those who do or are still recipients can easily say, "Well, I'm not using drugs. So, I don't care because it doesn't effect me." But its thinking like this that allows the government to intrude on our constitutional rights. A great example of this is the Patriot Act.

What I will say is if someone working at welfare suspects drug use, they should report it. After which, if the agent presents enough evidence to warrant an investigation into these accusations, a drug test should be issued. However, I would rather provide these individuals with services such as rehab than deny them welfare. Often times people do not humanize those receiving government aid. By doing so, its easy for people to discard them. What good would it do to deny someone, who is without a doubt in need of government assistance, welfare because because they have a drug problem? Would this person being homeless and a drug addict be less of a social issue?

A large portion of the population in prison are non-violent drug offenders. Opposed to using my tax dollars for imprisonment of these individuals, I'd rather it be used to create or support rehab clinics and programs. If a recipient of welfare is a drug addict, allow them the opportunity for sobriety. Many drug addicts who are financially well off often relapse. To be realistic, so may the welfare recipient. They are only human. But I'd rather give them a chance.

Does anyone have any facts about actual drug abuse of welfare/food stamp receipients? I hear alot of assumptions but not many facts. I agree if you give a drug test to recipients then test the lawmakers that made the law too. I've worked in politics and the one thing is that perception is often much different than reality.

If I have to drug test to get a job, they should have to drug test to (receive money from my taxes) get Welfare as well