Republican Orrin Hatch Proposes Requiring Drug Testing For Unemployment Benefits

[UrbanFarmer]

June 16, 5:14 PM · Alison Peek - Salt Lake City Political Buzz Examiner Utah's US Senator Orrin Hatch-R, is trying to add an amendment to a $140 billion senate bill this week that will extend the tax breaks and social programs designed to help during turbulent economic times. He wants anyone who gets welfare or unemployment benefits to pass a drug test.

 

Hatch maintains his idea will help battle drug addiction and reduce the national debt. He says it is "a way to help people get off drugs to become productive and healthy members of society while ensuring that valuable taxpayer dollars aren't wasted."

 

Utah state representative Carl Wimmer-R, Herriman introduced a similar bill during the last session of the legislature. As this is a federal program, the law was not pursued. He approves of Hatch's amendment because he believes people shouldn't "use taxpayer dollars to fund their addiction." He acknowledged people with drug addiction need help but added "they need to step up to get the help."

 

Hatch's office compared the idea to random drug tests required by many employers. Those who fail the test could apply for state or federal treatment, and would have sixty days to get clean.

 

Linda Hilton of Crossroads Urban Center did acknowledge a small number of people who do receive public assistance have substance abuse issues, but this is not the majority of people who need help. She called Hatch's amendment "immoral" and "outrageous," and worries about entire families paying the price for parental addiction.

 

Hilton also argued Hatch's program would cost more than it would save because the government would have to provide even more treatment services as the need would also increase. The government would also have to incur the cost of the drug test.

[LansingAreaCaregiver]

Great idea...if you REALLY want to see crime skyrocket.

 

Q: What is worse than a crack/heroin/meth addict who's only source of income is government aid?

A: A crack/heroin/meth addict with NO legal source of income.

 

The ugly reality is that you can pay for their addiction via unemployment benefits or you can pay for their addiction with prison building and increased law enforcement.

 

Hey, here is a radical idea...why not start treating addiction like a medical condition rather than a criminal act. Revolutionary thinking, I know...

[UrbanFarmer]

What I'm finding funny is that back when the economy was doing well, many folks thought it was okay to test welfare recipients, mainly b/c they weren't on welfare. NOW, due to the economy, many of those same folks are now on public assistance or collecting unemployment. Let's see how well this goes over THIS time! lol

[dlovas]

What I'm finding funny is that back when the economy was doing well, many folks thought it was okay to test welfare recipients, mainly b/c they weren't on welfare. NOW, due to the economy, many of those same folks are now on public assistance or collecting unemployment. Let's see how well this goes over THIS time! lol

Another republican conservative doosh...amazing.,,

[TheSmartestManAlive]

Another republican conservative doosh...amazing.,,

 

[+wolfgang]

another one that needs to be voted OUT!! and so what if they do test positive,then what? your gonna put all these ppl on the streets with no money now, talk about crime going up what a SOB!!

[MmmSquirrel4Dinner]

Like OMG someone smoked a hooter to stop their back spasms and tested positive so NO job?

 

So lemme get this kinda right... the cost for a "random drug" (being Cannabis, coke, opiates w/o a prescription, shrooms, LSD) test would cost hundreds of dollars

 

and the cost for assistance like food/welfare is half that.

 

Politics are driving me NUTS

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QltxVyH05cw