Senate defeats bill to require drug screening of welfare recipients
On a party line vote, the Virginia Senate has killed legislation that would require local social services agencies to screen welfare recipients for possible drug use and subject some to drug tests.
The bill died on a 20-19 vote today, with all of the Senate’s Democrats opposing it. Republican Sen. Harry Blevins, R-Cheasapeake, was away from his desk when the vote occurred.
This is the second year in a row that Republican lawmakers have pushed for such legislation, which Democrats have blasted as an effort to exploit the poor for political purposes. A similar House-sponsored bill has stalled in the budget-writing Appropriations Committee.
Senate Bill 721, sponsored by Sen. Bill Carrico, R-Grayson County, would have require local social services departments to screen each participant in the Virginia Initiative for Employment Not Welfare (VIEW) program and determine whether there is “probable cause” to believe the person is using drugs. Those suspected of using drugs could be required to take drug tests and lose benefits for 12 months if they refuse and test positive.
Democrats argued that the bill was unconstitutional and singles out the poor. Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, said welfare recipients are no more likely to use drugs that the general population. She questioned why Carrico’s bill wouldn’t also apply to “legislators or bailed out CEO’s any other recipient of public aid.”
Carrico said his bill was different that a Florida drug testing scheme that was found to be unconstitutional because his proposal would not automatically subject welfare recipients to drug testing.
“This system has a mechanism to suspect thatthere was some type of use of drugs before the test takes place,” Carrico said.
The requirement would cost the state more than $462,000 in its first year, according to fiscal impact analysis of Carrico’s bill.
–Michael Sluss
February 4, 2013 - 12:32 PM
you have to pass a drug test to be employed, why shouldn’t you have to pass a drug test to get your FREE money??!!
The Senate should receive credit for using common sense, something the wingers are severely lacking.
This is totally ridiculous democrats. 90% of the working man and woman have to take random drug tests and who do you think is paying for these entitlements??? Not your money but the working persons money. Wake up democrats and get politics out of your votes!!!!!
another victory for the libs! sure to buy more votes.
Hey, don’t blame Democrats if you do not understand how the world works. Have you ever heard the expression “throw good money after bad”? This is expensive and solves nothing. It would be a waste of money, for that matter, so is drug testing in the workplace, but that is an employer’s choice and their money.
Do you people EVER complain about Corporate and Wall Street “welfare”. or drug testing them before they get any of our money?
When you eliminate the elderly and disabled (not the likeliest of drug users), the percentage of people actually on welfare is just not that high. Drug testing is just wasted money. Making you feel good or punishing people is not a good enough reason to spend a fortune.