New Drug Tests Target the Poor

[marmar]

from In These Times:



New Drug Tests Target the Poor
A spate of new laws ties government assistance to sobriety—furthering an unfounded stereotype.

By Rania Khalek


The growing number of poor Americans now face a new indignity, thanks to a legislative trend sweeping through state capitols: mandatory drug tests for needy citizens. This year alone, at least 30 state legislatures (including Louisiana, Massachusetts and Illinois) have considered bills that would require people to pass a drug test to become eligible to receive welfare benefits. Some states—including New Mexico, Maine and Kentucky—have proposed extending the practice to those collecting unemployment, Medicaid and food stamps.

At the federal level, this year Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) introduced the Drug Free Families Act, which would require all 50 states to drug test all Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program applicants and recipients. Their proposed legislation languishes in House and Senate committees, a fact that seems to have inspired states around the country to take matters into their own hands.

The state leading the new trend is Florida. On July 1, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) began administering drug screenings to adults applying for the TANF program, which provides families with an average of $240 a month for a lifetime limit of 48 months. “While there are certainly legitimate needs for public assistance, it is unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction,” Republican Gov. Rick Scott said on June 1 after signing the law, which is expected to affect about 4,000 applicants per month who will be required to foot the bill for the test.

While Floridians who pass are reimbursed, applicants who fail are denied benefits for a year unless they enroll in a treatment program and don’t test positive for six months (the state won’t pick up the tab for their recovery). Should they fail a second time, they will be ineligible for three years. All parents who test positive for drugs will be automatically reported to the state’s abuse hotline, likely followed by a visit from a DCF caseworker. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/11786/new_drug_tests_target_the_poor

[Jefferson23]

1. Another new low for the USA. I suppose we will continue to target

the poor, find another means to deny them sustenance, and I imagine continue to deny them any drug treatment
centers as a consequence of these tests. We have become excellent at screwing people of need..advance the oligarchs, onward
and upward.

K&R

[cate94]

2. That's just sick.

and a waste of money. And I suppose the poor with bashful bladders are completely out of luck.

:wtf:

[benld74]

3. Tax Increase on the Poor Number ???

[think]

4. Is Budweiser sponsoring this legislation?....nt

[alp227]

5. for corporate profits for drug test companies

Does either Rick Scott or his wife have ownership in such a company? I've heard about it but don't recall the exact details. I bet that the CEOs/stockholders will themselves use the money to get drunk or high!

[DirkGently]

8. Solantic, private "urgent care" clinics Scott co-founded. Transferred the stock to wife's trust.

One of Solantic's prime activities is drug testing. Their $35 test is apparently popular with people wishing to know in advance if they would pass a drug test for a job, etc.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/gov-rick-scotts-drug-testing-policy-stirs-suspicion-1350922.html

Scott's plan may not directly funnel money to Solantic, but it will likely benefit it.

There was another good DU thread on this recently, reporting that the program will apparently cost the state something like $170 million, because only a tiny fraction have failed the test. Total "savings" to the state was something like $40,000.

Disgusting.

[Uncle Joe]

6. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, marmar.

[phantom power]

7. No, I'm afraid it's medical experiments for the lot of you!

Oh, father!