Florida Governor Defends Drug Testing For Welfare Recipients
Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a law on June 1st which requires drug testing for individuals receiving funds through the state/federal TANF (welfare) program. Recipients would be responsible for paying for the test themselves, though they recoup the expense if they pass. If they fail, they don’t get the funds but can designate another recipient to receive the funds on behalf of their children.
“It’s not right for taxpayer money to be paying for somebody’s drug addiction,” says Governor Scott.
“What (Scott) is doing is giving ugly legitimacy to an unfortunate stereotype that has been in this country for a couple of decades — that all welfare recipients are a bunch of drug abusers,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the ACLU of Florida.
I think it sounds reasonable. If you’re asking other people to care for you, in this instance the taxpayers, it’s only fair that conditions come with that assistance. Asking that a person be sober in order to receive the assistance isn’t unreasonable at all.
I believe America’s drug prohibition to be foolish policy. I think we’re spending billions trying to prohibit drug use while not putting a dent in trafficking, sales or use. That being said, whether drugs are illegal or not, if a given individual has enough money to get high then they have enough money to be off the welfare rolls.
