Harbin bill would require drug tests for benefits

fayettedailynews.com ^ | 2/15/2010 | Staff

[dfwgator]

But if you choose to get the benefits (nobody is putting a gun to your head to take them), then you choose to go by the rules set forth.

[Drew68]

On top of that, I'd have any welfare (not UC) recipient have their records cross checked with broadband providers, cell phone providers and other luxury subscription services and if they have any of these things, no checks for them.

In this day and age, I don't think I'd consider cell phones and internet service to be luxury items, especially if you're trying to find a job.

[Red in Blue PA]

So that would mean I would need to cancel my cell phone which I use to schedule interviews? Or my broadband which I use to look for job openings? Glad you are not the one making decisions as I am currently unemployed.

[goseminoles]

I’m currently unemployed too. I’m not getting rich on 143.00 a week.
I can’t afford to put gas in my car and eat much less buy drugs.
This whole idea is absurd and unamerican. Shame on this “conservative”.

[AF_Blue]

Tell that to the computer that selects a random number of names on a random day, and then sends me the paperwork to serve to these random people and inform them they have two hours to report to a predesignated location which they may not leave until they've provided a sample, which, if these people are anything like me and they end up getting served after they've recycled morning coffee, wastes a few hours of time waiting for the next sample to get produced. Managing this program is NOT part of the career I was initially trained for - it's an additional duty. I was tasked because of my position as a Non-Commissioned Officer, and because my office is centrally located and the majority of the people in my organization know where to come to get served.

It's an effective process to weed out (no pun intended) illegal drug use, and it's a condition of service. You've never been in the United States Armed Forces, have you?

If service to my country requires I provide a specimen at random intervals, I see nothing wrong with a recipient of government funds (i.e. "My Money") being required to do the same as a condition for receiving said funds.

[cva66snipe]

i agree that anyone in any state signing up for any kind of freebies should take a drug test....and not just once...

Good now report to your local DMV and surrender a urine specimen or surrender your license. Or better yet lets just have them call you at random or have an LEO pull you over and take such via hair follicles. What you say? They can't do that as you are a law abiding taxpaying citizen? Well so are the unemployed. Since when should a run of bad luck such as a no fault of your own loss of job require drug testing? For that matter when should such require you to surrender your Constitutional Rights?

[MrRobertPlant2009]

If you took away my internet access and cell phone, how do I find a job?

[pnh102]

Did you people even read my post. I stated that the taxpayers should not pay for these things for welfare recipients. I specificially singled out UC recipients from that.

[Red in Blue PA]

Many here have no clue as to how bad it is out there. 6.1 unemployed people for each and every job openings. I recently had an interview where I was number 2 out of 14 being interviewed. Do not even want to know how many people sent in resumes.

[tatsinfla]

ok but lets see...for me to have a dl i take a test and pay for the privalage to drive a car....the deadbeats out there living off the taxpayers do not pay....notice i said deadbeats....the ones that have learned to play the system to their benefit...i think you know the ones i am talking about....but hey you want to keep drunks and drug addicts from behind the wheel, ok lets go for it....all take a drug and alcohol test....from the hair to make sure....

[goseminoles]

LOL!!! There are absolutely no drugs being used in the military. You should be proud you have an essential position within our armed forces. Perhaps you could head up this mission? Be a czar perhaps. /s

[microgood]

But if you choose to get the benefits (nobody is putting a gun to your head to take them), then you choose to go by the rules set forth.

Even if you are getting public assistance, you have not given up your Constitutional rights. The only way to give up you rights is to be convicted of a felony or join the military(you get your rights back when you leave the military).

[cva66snipe]

You surrender your rights or a good portion of them when you enlist. You are governed by the UCMJ. IOW Uncle Sam owns you. You take that test for national security reasons. Yes I'm a vet and I was in service when drug testing first started back in the 1970’s. No I didn't like it then but understood it was for national security. An unemployment check is not national security. The only thing Uncle owes you is one hour sleep and one meal. The rest Uncle can do as he pleases till you are discharged. Now think long and hard. Do you want the civilian sector ran like the military? Or was there a Constitutional clause or allowance placed in the Constitution to separate the two?

[dfwgator]

But since when is public assistance a “right.”

[microgood]

You've never been in the United States Armed Forces, have you?

No, but having worked for the Navy, I understand you are operating under UCMJ and you have given up your consititional rights. Therefore they can drug test you (or do anything they want to you, for that matter).

I see nothing wrong with a recipient of government funds (i.e. "My Money") being required to do the same as a condition for receiving said funds.

The problem with is that it is unconstitional. We would have to modify/remove the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution to make that happen. And I for one do not support that at all.

[goseminoles]

Its a “right” as long as employees and employers pay in.

[microgood]

But since when is public assistance a “right.”

It is not a right at all. I am all for getting rid of it myself. But some unemployment is paid for by your employer on behalf of you, not by the government, so that is a little different than straight welfare.

But the bottom line is that the Government cannot search you without a warrant or probable cause that you have committed a crime.

On the other hand, if they get rid of the 4th Amendment, then they can do it. But given the past abuses of governments, I do not think that would be wise.

[cva66snipe]

ok but lets see...for me to have a dl i take a test and pay for the privalage to drive a car....the deadbeats out there living off the taxpayers do not pay....notice i said deadbeats....the ones that have learned to play the system to their benefit...i think you know the ones i am talking about....but hey you want to keep drunks and drug addicts from behind the wheel, ok lets go for it....all take a drug and alcohol test....from the hair to make sure....

Please allow me to set you straight on some matter. Those deadbeats as you call them drawing unemployment also had paid their taxes just like poor little you. Who determines who is a dead beat. You are more than willing to force a purity test upon others yet you exempt yourself? What does that make you? It's a bad idea and a bad precedent period. Yes there will be abuses in the system as no system is perfect. But having people to surrender rights is not the answer to the problem.

BTW both me and my wife are permanently disabled on Social Security Disability and Medicare. Let me show you how easy it would be to be busted. I have a chronic back issue and have taken meds off and on since my time in the Navy 30 years ago. My dad has a chronic back issue. My wife as well at times has such. Yes sometimes in a pinch we'll take a pill one or the other has. It's called saving several hundred dollars for an ER visit where we'll get that same pill. My back is not my disability. Mt wife is a quadriplegic of 25 years through no fault of her own. Do you want her tested?

I'm disabled due to sensory processing issues that limit they type of prescribed drugs I can even take for aches and pain. Want me tested also? Think!!!!! In reality about 95% or more of persons getting government help are not druggies. The rest know how to get around drug testing. IOW it's a waste of taxpayers money.

[Oldpuppymax]

Gee whiz, that’s pretty rough, isn’t it! After all, coke-heads and heroin addicts make WONDERFUL workers, don’t they??!!

[cva66snipe]

But since when is public assistance a “right.”

It's not. But for many of us it is a contracted obligation the government bound itself to us through compulsory wage deductions.