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The proposal, recently outlined by Republican senators, is to direct the Missouri Department of Social Services to set up a drug-testing program for work-eligible welfare recipients.
During discussion, the senate committee learned that the drug-testing bills were only to be used of there is "reasonable cause" to believe welfare recipients are using illegal drugs.
He added that the proposal would single out low income individuals and people on assistance, and seemed to be a form of discrimination.
Todd explained that he was, however, in support of any actions to do away with drugs.
"[I] think [drug use] is one of the worst things about ruining lives," Todd said.
He added that one of his concerns with the proposal was the cost to the State of Missouri.
Todd explained that the current estimates were for the fiscal note to be over $2 million in the first year.
"I don't know where the money will come from," Todd said.
He also added that he was unsure if the individuals, once testing positive, would be placed in a program for treatment.
Todd explained another issue with the proposal is that drug courts in the state were currently full of participants and he was not sure if they could handle the traffic that the proposal would potentially create.
He noted that the state had to be careful in assessing the regulation and costs of bills before they are passed.
Todd explained that he was not aware of a statistic showing that "needy families" were worse on drugs.
"If we are testing these people, why not test all of us working for the state or receiving assistance," Todd said.
He added that he was currently unsure how he would vote when concerning the proposal.
"We've got to try to get rid of the drug problem, [but I am] worried about the ramifications," Todd said.
State Rep. Terry Swinger, D-Caruthersville, noted that he voted in approval of the proposal last year and would do the same this year.
"[I] think drugs are such a problem, [we need to] do anything to curtail these issues," Swinger said.
He added that his biggest concern with the proposal was the added expense with the current state of the budget.
"It will be difficult to find [funds]," Swinger said.
Comments
Please vote to approve this drug testing bill. These people are not being discriminated against. I am drug tested for my employment and if I don't pass, I am fired. Why not cut off the state money to these drug users. They are selling food stamps for half to buy crack and other drugs. The money saved by not supplying monetary and tradeable commodities to these low lifes will pay for the expense to drug test them. STOP DRUG USE NOW!!! Children are being raised in these homes and all they are learning is crime and drug use!!!
Amen Pattyjean!! If the rest of us can be drug tested for work and fired if the test is positive (thus cutting off OUR income) then these people should be tested also and cut off if positive. Only in THEIR minds could that be called descrimination. Working people are descriminated against all the time and no one complains about that. The welfare system was set up as a good and honorable system to help those who could not help themselves. Now it is a joke. Just ask most (not all) welfare receipients and they will laugh about how much they draw while others are working. I know this because I've seen it.
I'm all for it. Anybody getting a check from the taxpayers should take them, including employees, with a no tolerance allowed.