Oh Good. Let’s make poor people pay for their own ritual humiliation.
by digby
A proposal to require drug testing for some North Dakota welfare recipients puts an unfair burden on the needy and might be unconstitutional, state and social services officials said Monday.
Several Republican lawmakers are pushing the measure, which also would require applicants of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to pay for the drug testing themselves before getting assistance.
Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Devils Lake, told the House Human Services Committee that the bill would ensure that taxpayer money is not being used to fuel addiction problems. He said it’s a concern he hears often from his constituents.
“This bill provides a needed incentive for people to keep clean from drug use,” Johnson said.
Under the measure, the state could deny public assistance for one year after the date of a positive drug test, and three years after the date of a second positive test. The measure would not affect assistance for children. A third party would manage the aid if a parent or guardian tested positive for illegal drugs.
The good news is that this would solve the nation’s drug problem. After all, we know that people who aren’t on welfare never use illegal drugs.
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