Missouri lawmakers want drug testing for welfare

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Opponents of drug testing for Missouri's welfare recipients say such measures could hurt low-income children and wouldn’t help addicts kick the habit.

Republican lawmakers have made drug testing one of their priorities this year. But it drew opposition Tuesday during a state Senate committee hearing.

Colleen Coble, an advocate against domestic violence, says many households that get welfare have only one parent. She says taking away that parent’s benefits because of a positive test would mean the family has less money to care for children. She also says it’s unclear who would pay for a parent’s drug treatment.

Lawmakers say it isn’t fair that people receiving benefits could use taxpayer money to buy drugs. They say people who test positive should lose their benefits for as long as three years.

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MK 2 years, 4 months ago

So if you smoke pot then your kids are going to suffer even more because of this? Its a bad idea mostly due to the collateral damage that will happen. I think all the legislators should be drug tested first and foremost before they start making it a rule for other people. In fact, ban alcohol for legislators as well. Its a far more dangerous drug than some of the illegal stuff out there.

I agree that hard drug use as well as alcholism can be a problem in some of these targeted households, but I don't think this is the correct solution. Should we also regulate their diets? Should we force a minimum education requirement in order to receive state aid? Should we mandate birth control?

Rison 2 years, 4 months ago

You hit the nail on the head with the comment about legislators being tested. If they make it rule for others, they need to follow it too. Of course, this won't ever happen, they still get to smoke and drink in their offices while they are supposed to be working for the taxpayers.

newone 2 years, 4 months ago

one difference here MK and RISON, legislators WORK they do not expect the government to support them while they sit on thier rump doing nothing and spending the money they do have on durgs and alcohol while there children go hungry and with out the basic needs!

Rison 2 years, 4 months ago

I know of a few legislators who do just that ("sit on their rump doing nothing and spending money"), sometimes the only difference I see between the two (legislators and welfare recipients) is the obvious difference in material possessions. Both legislators and welfare are paid from the taxes of those of us who work.

Regardless, I wasn't agreeing, or disagreeing with drug testing welfare recipients. I was simply saying that before they make a law telling others what to do, they should have to do it themselves. I think that's only fair.

newone 2 years, 4 months ago

oh and one more thing, if you have no money to buy food or if you are in need of government help how in the world do you have money to purchase pot or any other drugs????

MK 2 years, 4 months ago

That's a great point. Maybe people give them a little bit? Who is to know that they are actually spending money on the stuff? They could be spending that money at a strip club, wasting it on a movie, buying a new stereo, purchasing gas to visit relatives out of state, donating it to their church or doing a whole bunch of non-essential things with that money instead of buying their kids new winter coats and boots.

I've never been on welfare but am curious to know approximately how much cash and cash only that a typical household receives.

(off topic, apparently the word s-h-o-e-s is an offensive word and not allowed here)

jeffcitygirl 2 years, 4 months ago

$292 a month for a family of three. A family of four gets $342, A family of five gets $388, and a family of six gets $431. Not even $100 a person. So I ask it is worth it to pay for testing? You have to have 20 people in your family to break over $900 in benefits.

newone 2 years, 4 months ago

how many drug dealers do you know that will "give" drugs away at no cost? Come on! I have never been on wellfare either but I know people who are and abuse the hell out of it, they sit around all day on there butts doing nothing except smoking pot or doing other drugs while we the goverment supports them..that is so wrong in so many ways. I truly can not believe that someone would actually be against this!

MK 2 years, 4 months ago

So no one has ever offered you a beer or a glass of wine when you've visited them? Is it a huge stretch to realize that when some people go to a buddy's to watch the game, that they may bring a case a beer with them to share. I am sure recreational drug use might work in the same way amongst friends and aquaintances People run out of smokes and bum them off their friends as well.

Rison 2 years, 4 months ago

From what I've seen on TV, the first one is always free.

JMO 2 years, 4 months ago

My question is who does the testing and who pays for the testing.

newone 2 years, 4 months ago

are you asking how much cash the government give them?

MK 2 years, 4 months ago

yeah, I have no clue as to how much cash people on welfare actually receive. I know they get food stamps, help with thier lodging, medical benefits and other things but I don't know how much actual cash they do get that they can buy drugs with.

There are people though that do use drugs like smoking pot or drinking alcohol, who don't pay for it and aren't addicted to it and can still be very good and caring parents.

The big lesson here though is that if you are going to be suckling off the teet of the government and the more you depend upon that government, the less control and say you will have in your own individual and private lives.

If this passes, hopefully it will help to push some people to get out from underneath the umbrella of big brother and do as much as they can for themselves. Some people though, through no fault of their own, are incapable of sustaining themselves and their families in today's world.

newone 2 years, 4 months ago

They do not get "cash" but they do get food stamps which they sell or trade for drugs. If you go to a friend’s house and they offer you a joint once in a blue moon than chances are you are not going to test positive unless the test is the next day.. this is for constant users that do buy them and use every day and if that is the case they should be busted and they should have the benefits taken away. Welfare is meant to be temporary not permanent.

jeffcitygirl 2 years, 4 months ago

That's not true. Sigh. Get your facts right. There IS a cash program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). There is also a Food Stamp program in which you get a card with a PIN number and can only buy food. If you know someone selling their benefit card it's easily reportable and traceable.

jeffcitygirl 2 years, 4 months ago

The maximum TANF grant for a single parent with two kids a whopping $292 a month it's been the same amount since 1996, with no increases. There is a 5 year limit. That's ever, not per child. Many many misconceptions about the program.

More info: h t t p://w w w.nccp.org/profiles/MO_profile_36.html

jeffcitygirl 2 years, 4 months ago

And there are only 50,000+ TANF recipients in the state, while food stamps are more like 300,000+. they are not asking for testing of Food Stamp recipients, only TANF.

JMO 2 years, 4 months ago

A felony drug conviction will already disqualify a person from receiving Food Stamps, but only the single individual, not other members of their family. Most TANF benefits come on a EBT card now (like an ATM card) but it could be there is still the option of cash or checks for that. Food Stamps also come on the EBT card, but they do allow you to opt into actual coupons. jeffcitygirl is correct about the limits, not sure about the $292, but they are really small amounts with a 5 year limit on TANF. Not something I could raise a kid on.

jeffcitygirl 2 years, 4 months ago

I used to be a DFS income maintenance worker and still work for the division. I know my amounts are accurate. And yes I'm off the clock right now.

JMO 2 years, 4 months ago

Then yep, you'd know more about it than I! :)

newone 2 years, 4 months ago

$292 is enought to feed 3 people for a month IF you get what you "need" and not what you "want" and if you buy generic brands or go to AlDI's. And just because they have an EBT card doesn't mean they can't get cash, I know of someone who has her mom give her cash and then she goes with her mom to the store to buy food, it happens all of the time.

usmc00 2 years, 4 months ago

I think its a great idea. The make a simple drug testing kit they use in the recruiting offices. They are cheap to. Work like a birth control test pretty well. They are 99% acurate. Kids wont suffer. Most people don't know but in alot of the public schools they send food home with kids as well as free lunch and breakfast. Many of the people I see over at the wlefare office drive nice brand new cars and sport all kinds of nice jewelry. They don't look to bad off. So I like this idea.

jeffcitygirl 2 years, 4 months ago

What the heck is a "birth control test?" Kids WILL suffer. And why are you at the welfare office to begin with to see these supposed "new cars" and such...spend a DAY doing a caseworkers job and THEN tell me about how you think people "use" the pathetic system we have..

newone 2 years, 4 months ago

Sorry Jeffcitygirl, they system is pathetic, when a family of three can get assistance with rent ( only pays $4 a month out of pocket), gets $300 a month in free food, does not have to pay electric or water or trash, does not have to pay to go to the doctors, and also gets WICK all the while BOTH mother and father a capable of working but choose not to because why should they when everything is paid for? They choose to take the little money the do make when the dad decides he wants to work for a month or so and they use it all on drugs and booze...and you are saying the system isn't pathetic??

jeffcitygirl 2 years, 4 months ago

I don't know of any program that pays electric year round. Energy Assistance is only a one time per year benefit.

JCLifer 2 years, 4 months ago

Sterylization to recieve benefits is a great idea.

bluesfan13 2 years, 4 months ago

I almost got killed one day for suggesting that hypothetically, strictly from a fiscal standpoint, that is the most cost-effective way to provide welfare.

ellen027 2 years, 4 months ago

I am so for this bill. But I believe that it should be hair testing. It goes back alot farther. To get my job I had to take a drug test. To keep my job I have had to had hair testing. My husband has random drug testing.Its a part of life now a days. I believe that Me Joe blow Tax payer who is paying for the welfare program should have the right to know that the free money that is gong out there is going to clean people. Just like most jobs now a days want. I also believe that welfare program should go back the way my parents talk about where you got peanut butter not steaks.. Theres nothing more upsetting than being in line behind someone with a cart full of junk food and high dollar meat and name brand foods. using their food stamps card. then i heard one state wants to allow the card to be used at fast food.. please

JonH 2 years, 4 months ago

I agree and I think we need to go a step farther. Lets drug test our state representatives who receive 35k a year from our government.

asb 2 years, 4 months ago

Why test? Shouldn't we allow welfare benefits for people who use drugs, including booze? If you're on welfare must you wear burlap and sandels, live in a box, give up your TV, pass moral tests, meet dress codes, show correct voting records? While the politicians sit in their offices stupified on lobbyist booze and ruining lungs with free Cuban cigars. Somehow you think we should hold welfare recipients to a higher moral standard than the rest of us. Does your definition of welfare include tax break recipients? Tax free rich folk with good lawyers? Farmers paid to not grow, or paid to grow corn and meat for fat people? Bogus! The VAST majority of people on welfare are out of work because there aren't enough jobs, not because they're lesser folks needing lessons or imposed controls on how to live. Why do them welfare peoples' kids have sparkle s-h-o-e-s? Those divercity people are all drivin' cadillacs, shootin'drugs, and drinkin' champagne. We should subsidize these tests, medical industry welfare is much better.

joda 2 years, 4 months ago

I doubt that the fed will be picking up the tab for this... right now with the state's budget problems, the last thing they should be doing is passing laws that will cost the state more money. drug tests cost money, admin hearings cost money, the third party distribution of funds for children cost money. With DSS setup/training/admin costs means that this "program" is going to cost missouri taxpayers millions PER YEAR!

What are they going to do, lay off more state employees to fund this??

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