Drugs and Welfare don't mix.

[chas22]

I see you have to pass a drug test now to get welfare, it's about time!   

[RecycleMichael]

I think we should also test all government employees then. Policemen, firemen, teachers, politicians, etc. should be tested for the same reasons.

[nathanm]

Yes, making people destitute is a great way to help them improve their lives and keep them from crime that actually hurts other people. So is using money that could go towards roads or better SNAP benefits for drug tests instead. It's a crying shame it took so long for our esteemed legislature to figure this out.

[Hoss]

I think we should also test all government employees then. Policemen, firemen, teachers, politicians, etc. should be tested for the same reasons.

I think the bill referred does require politicians on the state level be drug tested as well.  I'd be curious to know how many fail.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I definitely want to pay the $100 or so that it costs to test BEFORE (and randomly during) passing out welfare.  If someone fails that, it is highly likely - no, it is a certainty - that the money received later is going directly to the drugs.

Cigarettes and alcohol should be included.  If someone can afford cigarettes, they certainly don't need any monetary assistance from me.

[Conan71]

It's hard to find actual data as so much of what is being written about Florida's law an it's aftermath seems to be op-ed parading as fact.  Thus far here's what I can find:

-Pee test is $8-$12 on average
-Only somewhere between 2 & 4% are failing the pee tests
-Florida has saved about $1 million so far.
-I'm finding claims it's costing Florida more to enforce than it saves

If someone else cares to take a swing at it on the Googles I'd appreciate it as I can't seem to find anything to find out how effective it has been.

It's another noble statement type of legislation designed to appeal to the more conservative of us, but I think there's probably bigger fish to fry in terms of reigning in government waste and all the other government-sanctioned freeloading which is allowed.

Senator Coburn had some good ideas on where to start.  I suspect some of these freeloaders might have a hard time passing a piss test as well.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2061591/Springsteen-Bon-Jovi-Ted-Turner-30bn-tax-subsidies-EVERY-YEAR.html

[DolfanBob]

My wife works at a local drug testing facility and they drug test Tulsa Police Officers. It really in my opinion isnt random when the Officer knows before hand that he will be going in to test. And when they only test for alcohol going back six hours, it's almost worthless. Meh, at least they can say they do it.

[DTowner]

I worked on welfare policy during my time in Washington DC and this issue was a tough one we wrestled with back in the mid-90s.  No one wants government benefits used to subsidize drug use/abuse.  However, many welfare recipients are single-parent households with minor dependent children.  Denying benefits to children because of a parent failing a drug test will surely test the mettle of your convictions.  Obviously, if there is drug usage and minor children in the home, then there are other serious issues needing to be addressed, although Okla.'s HHS has not performed very well in this area (and in many others).

I'm not familiar with the particulars of this bill, but I'd be curious if there are exceptions for or provisions dealing with minor dependents, etc. that mitigate the effect and effectiveness of such testing.

I think drug testing for various housing subsidies has been around for a while in some states/communities.

[carltonplace]

Are they also drug testing the top 5% before they take them off of the state income tax roles?

It speaks volumes that this congress passed long term elimination of the state income tax starting at the top and trickling down (with full stop in 2022) and at the same time passed welfare restrictions on the poor.

Why does the income tax elimination start at the top? Why not decrease it accross the board?
How many of Oklahoma's needy are drug users? What will this program cost us in state reimbursments to drug testing companies?

[patric]

My wife works at a local drug testing facility and they drug test Tulsa Police Officers. It really in my opinion isnt random when the Officer knows before hand that he will be going in to test. And when they only test for alcohol going back six hours, it's almost worthless. Meh, at least they can say they do it.

A few years back there was a list of what was and wasn't tested, that seemed to establish the effort as window dressing.

[Ed W]

It's hard to find actual data as so much of what is being written about Florida's law an it's aftermath seems to be op-ed parading as fact.  Thus far here's what I can find:

-Pee test is $8-$12 on average
-Only somewhere between 2 & 4% are failing the pee tests
-Florida has saved about $1 million so far.
-I'm finding claims it's costing Florida more to enforce than it saves

If someone else cares to take a swing at it on the Googles I'd appreciate it as I can't seem to find anything to find out how effective it has been.

It's another noble statement type of legislation designed to appeal to the more conservative of us, but I think there's probably bigger fish to fry in terms of reigning in government waste and all the other government-sanctioned freeloading which is allowed.

I recall that the welfare recipients tested at 2% while the general population in Florida tested at 8%.  Dunno what welfare pays in FL, but in PA I think it was about $300/month.  Given a choice between buying drugs and buying food, I suspect most opt to fill their bellies.

[jne]

It's hard to find actual data as so much of what is being written about Florida's law an it's aftermath seems to be op-ed parading as fact.  Thus far here's what I can find:

-Pee test is $8-$12 on average
-Only somewhere between 2 & 4% are failing the pee tests
-Florida has saved about $1 million so far.
-I'm finding claims it's costing Florida more to enforce than it saves

If someone else cares to take a swing at it on the Googles I'd appreciate it as I can't seem to find anything to find out how effective it has been.

It's another noble statement type of legislation designed to appeal to the more conservative of us, but I think there's probably bigger fish to fry in terms of reigning in government waste and all the other government-sanctioned freeloading which is allowed.

Senator Coburn had some good ideas on where to start.  I suspect some of these freeloaders might have a hard time passing a piss test as well.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2061591/Springsteen-Bon-Jovi-Ted-Turner-30bn-tax-subsidies-EVERY-YEAR.html

http://houston.cbslocal.com/2011/08/29/a-closer-look-at-welfare-drug-testing/

The costs quoted are all over the place.  Regardless, the legislators haven't given much thought to the details.  I'm sure we'll be paying for this to make its way through the courts.  I assume some private agencies will be accredited in some way to administer the tests?  It won't catch most of the hard drugs since they are mostly not detectable in urine after a few days.  We'll yank the checks from some of those hardcore pot heads that get all hopped up on the MJ and beat their kids.  What about prescription meds?  I'm guessing they need to produce some evidence that they took it legally?  Who's keeping all the follow-up paperwork straight for all this?  I assume everyone will have to be HIPPA certified who handles any of that info.  Then they get mandatory treatment?  Whats our capacity of mental health professionals to respond to that?  How much will that cost? How does the money get to the kids in need if their parents are denied? How many will turn to  petty crimes to feed their kids?  I dunno, I just can't see how this can be such a magic bullet that is going to save all this money and eliminate a sense of entitlement .  If you want to see a sense of entitlement, take a look at some of the kids of these doctors (some estimates say 15% of docs are drug abusers).

[patric]

The costs quoted are all over the place.

You can analyze the costs Vs Benefits till your blue in the face, but it's all moot once you understand it was all a scheme to stuff the Florida governor's pockets.

[TulsaRufnex]

You can analyze the costs Vs Benefits till your blue in the face, but it's all moot once you understand it was all a scheme to stuff the Florida governor's pockets.

Well, shut my mouth and call me corn pone..... but maybe he doesn't like his wifey..... http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/gov-scott-shifting-clinics-to-his-wife-raises-1317326.html

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-february-2-2012/poor-pee-ple