S. 532 (Peeler R-Cherokee) requires a recipient of unemployment benefits to pass a drug test to continue benefits. Simple enough? Well, as you know, they’ll throw out the lame “unconstitutional” argument, so we amended it to conform to a employee being fired for failing a drug test. The bill now reads that if you fail (or refuse to take) a drug test in an application process, you’re benefits will discontinue. There is no requirement for employers to require a drug test, but many currently do.
What I thought was a nontroversy,we recommitted S. 532 to clean up a glitch. S. 532 will come out very soon. (This link leads to the original version of the bill which reads differently than the explanation that I’ve given in the post. The amendment now under consideration would cut off the benefits of any UI recipient that fails a drug test as part of an application process. The disqualification would fall under the premise of “able and available” for work which a beneficiary who fails a drug test as part of an application process clearly would not be. The test would be paid for by the potential employer, and that employer would have to notify DEW of a failure.)
Here’s a popular e-mail being circulated, you may have seen it. I wish I had it this week in the Labor, Commerce, & Industry Committee:
Like most folks in this country, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes & The government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, in my case, I am required to pass a random urine test (with which I have no problem). What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don’t have to pass a urine test.
So, here is my question: Shouldn’t one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check? Because I have to pass one to earn it for them?
Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sit on their BUTT doing drugs while I work. Can you imagine how much money each state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?
I guess we could call the program “URINE OR YOU’RE OUT”! Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don’t. Hope you all will pass it along, though. Something has to change in this country – AND SOON!
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