Republicans want to drug test for unemployment benefits

Sparagmos · Nov 20, 2018

archer75 said:
You think every member of Congress would fail a drug test? Was there miscommunication here?

Sorry, I replied to the wrong post. My comment was not about congress. Not sure what happened.

Sparagmos · Nov 20, 2018

Johnny4ChristJesus said:
Honestly, Archer, this isn't my country, so I don't really care what they choose to do. Its just sad to see a fight over putting expectations on people who are receiving freebees. I don't understand why that is a problem. The federal government controls states all the time by withholding moneys when they don't comply with a federal directive. Why shouldn't that affect everyone who is receiving money from the federal government? They aren't talking about retroactively making people pay stuff back. They are talking about withholding future benefits as a consequence for a bad choice. I really don't understand how that is wrong. Is the government responsible for getting them on drugs? Or did they make the choice? How do you motivate your people to change if you can't consequence them when they make a bad choice?

I know the story of a family of 5 kids. The dad raped the oldest girl, his underage step-daughter. The dad was the major breadwinner, but went to jail for rape. As a result, the kids were ultimately put in foster care for six months at public expense and the mom still can't get a job, so they are living off the government/public funds. Was it the public's fault or the government's fault that the dad raped his step-daughter? Should the government not have dealt with the dad, because it could put the family in harm's way? Why is it always someone else's problem and not the problem of the person who did the wrong? I am all for helping people. I just don't understand when people act like they are owed this, as if it is their right to do wrong and someone else's job to take care of the fallout they created.

Unemployment isn’t a freebie in the U.S., it’s insurance. I’ve paid a small fortune into unemployment over the last 30 years, you’d better believe I feel entitled to it.

Ronald · Nov 20, 2018

camille70 said:
Right before Election Day, while most Americans were distracted by whether a blue wave was going to engulf Congress, the Trump administration moved to place yet another obstacle between the needy and one of the programs that they rely on to get by. The policy change is supposedly about helping people become work ready, but in reality, it’s about stigmatizing the assistance they need.

If adopted, the Department of Labor’s proposed rule would let states impose a drug test on people who lose their jobs and need unemployment insurance to get through the dry spell.

The rule will now undergo a comment period before it can take effect. If it does, it will be the first time states are allowed to force virtually any jobless residents to pee in a cup in return for their unemployment checks. This would fulfill a longtime GOP wish. After a compromise in 2012, Congress allowed states to impose drug tests only for those who lost their jobs because of a positive result or were searching for jobs in workplaces where tests are legally required. Republicans argued then this was far too restrictive, and they may now get want they originally wanted.

Unemployment isn’t the only program that might soon be subject to drug tests. This year The Associated Press reported that the administration was mulling a proposal to let states drug test certain food stamp recipients ― even though the Department of Agriculture has repeatedly made it clear that letting states do that would violate current law.

Read the rest @
Republicans Hope You Didn't Notice Their Latest Cruel Unemployment 'Reform' | HuffPost

Federal Register :: Federal-State Unemployment Compensation Program; Establishing Appropriate Occupations for Drug Testing of Unemployment Compensation Applicants Under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012

And ... What's wrong with that? Should we pay for drug attics to be on unemployment? They require drug tests prior to employment and periodically during employment. Maybe that is why they got fired?
I smoked pot and the did drugs 35 years ago. I was a Hippy -- patches on pants, growing plants in my yard and so let me tell you, you lose all ambition and motivation when you are partying all the time, just thinking about your next high.
There are many phonies out there collecting on disability as well, pretending to be disabled and are just plain drug addicts or alcoholics just thinking about their next fix!. I know many are losers who are just trying to suck from society and skim through life. They connive their way from free hand out to hand out, falsifying information, lying under oath, criminals who will commit other crimes as well as long as they can get away with it. Enough of your bleeding heart liberal garbage.
We should cut welfare and food stamps from obese people too and insist either they lose weight, exercise, eat right or they can just fend for themselves. They are addicted to food, with no self control in sight, which can be worse than drugs! It's sad to see these welfare recipient/couch potatoes with their obese children -- it's irresponsible and careless.
And last but not least, cut any and all free hand outs including healthcare and welfare to illegal aliens.
If we did not offer free hand-outs, THEY WOULD NOT COME IN CARAVANS. Why do some Americans approve of this. Do they realize that the majority of these people are males are more likely prepared to do harm to our nation?
Sorry, we have laws, immigration laws THAT MUST BE ENFORCED! Go Trump! Enforce the laws and by all means create and finish the immigration laws that are needed.
The Asylum law applies to those who are escaping war torn countries, violence, persecution, suppression, enslavement or even a hopeless situation. But as soon as these people step over the border of their country into the next, THAT IS THE COUNTRY TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM. Hondurans step into Guatemala - THAT IS THEIR COUNTRY FOR ASYLUM, not the U.S. Guatemalans stepping over into Mexico - THAT IS THEIR COUNTRY OF ASYLUM, NOT THE U.S.

Why did I go into all of these issues? Because this is the agenda of the LEFT. This movement is an attempt to remove our sovereignty, destroy it, along with our Constitution and laws to create a New World Order of socialism where they think only then can they create world peace and solve world hunger. We couldn't do it in what was considered the greatest nation ever, with the best form of government, so why do they think they can create this "Utopia" with a bigger government. Government usually screws things up. You can't have Utopia with sin in the world. Sin must be eliminated, before we can all get along and that will be done by our Lord and Savior, Jesus. We will see Paradise reborn - when He eliminates SIN and EVIL.

Johnny4ChristJesus · Nov 20, 2018

I'm done with the topic. I'm sorry I got involved in this, because it doesn't help anything and it isn't going to resolve anything.

camille70 · Nov 20, 2018

Ronald said:
And ... What's wrong with that? Should we pay for drug attics to be on unemployment? They require drug tests prior to employment and periodically during employment. Maybe that is why they got fired?
I smoked pot and the did drugs 35 years ago. I was a Hippy -- patches on pants, growing plants in my yard and so let me tell you, you lose all ambition and motivation when you are partying all the time, just thinking about your next high.
There are many phonies out there collecting on disability as well, pretending to be disabled and are just plain drug addicts or alcoholics just thinking about their next fix!. I know many are losers who are just trying to suck from society and skim through life. They connive their way from free hand out to hand out, falsifying information, lying under oath, criminals who will commit other crimes as well as long as they can get away with it. Enough of your bleeding heart liberal garbage.
We should cut welfare and food stamps from obese people too and insist either they lose weight, exercise, eat right or they can just fend for themselves. They are addicted to food, with no self control in sight, which can be worse than drugs! It's sad to see these welfare recipient/couch potatoes with their obese children -- it's irresponsible and careless.
And last but not least, cut any and all free hand outs including healthcare and welfare to illegal aliens.
If we did not offer free hand-outs, THEY WOULD NOT COME IN CARAVANS. Why do some Americans approve of this. Do they realize that the majority of these people are males are more likely prepared to do harm to our nation?
Sorry, we have laws, immigration laws THAT MUST BE ENFORCED! Go Trump! Enforce the laws and by all means create and finish the immigration laws that are needed.
The Asylum law applies to those who are escaping war torn countries, violence, persecution, suppression, enslavement or even a hopeless situation. But as soon as these people step over the border of their country into the next, THAT IS THE COUNTRY TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM. Hondurans step into Guatemala - THAT IS THEIR COUNTRY FOR ASYLUM, not the U.S. Guatemalans stepping over into Mexico - THAT IS THEIR COUNTRY OF ASYLUM, NOT THE U.S.

Why did I go into all of these issues? Because this is the agenda of the LEFT. This movement is an attempt to remove our sovereignty, destroy it, along with our Constitution and laws to create a New World Order of socialism where they think only then can they create world peace and solve world hunger. We couldn't do it in what was considered the greatest nation ever, with the best form of government, so why do they think they can create this "Utopia" with a bigger government. Government usually screws things up. You can't have Utopia with sin in the world. Sin must be eliminated, before we can all get along and that will be done by our Lord and Savior, Jesus. We will see Paradise reborn - when He eliminates SIN and EVIL.

Yeah this goes off the deep end and if you've read any of my other comments in the thread all your stereotypes and assumptions regarding the testing has been addressed by myself or others. Small government for the win!!

Fantine · Nov 20, 2018

Rick Scott made tons of money drug-testing welfare and SNAP beneficiaries. He used to own a drug testing company--which, when he became governor (now Senator) he sold to his wife.

Of course his wife's company got the exclusive contract. The texts revealed so few drug takers that Florida lost millions--which went into Scott's wife's pockets.

Who wants to bet that he'll be bidding for contracts for the country?

These tests are not cost-effective. They are punitive and designed to lead people to believe that ALL unemployed people are "guilty."

There were two high schools in my town--the "poor" high school and the "rich" high school. The joke was that the students in the "poor" high school would sell drugs--and the "rich" high school students would take them. I think this is true in life, too. The poor can't afford all these drugs!

trunks2k · Nov 20, 2018

Johnny4ChristJesus said:
So, following your logic, if someone cannot get a job and that is a requirement for supporting themselves, why is it someone else's fault or responsibility to fix their problem?

I don't see how that is following my logic. I don't think I said anything about any of that.

If they are using drugs, it may very well be the reason they aren't getting a job. After all, you did acknowledge that you were tested before hire, right?

It very well may be, and that would be up to the potential employers to report. If an employer says "we would have hired him, but he failed his drug test" that would be one thing. But A drug test alone doesn't show the reason a person doesn't get a job.

Yes, I was tested before for one job. One out of the seven or so I have worked entire life. and if I failed that test, I would have had two weeks to test clean. After that test, they didn't care. In fact drug testing is sort of frowned upon in my industry.

Ronald · Nov 20, 2018

camille70 said:
Yeah this goes off the deep end and if you've read any of my other comments in the thread all your stereotypes and assumptions regarding the testing has been addressed by myself or others. Small government for the win!!

Well, you are bashing Republicans, so I assume you are a liberal Democrat, but could be a Libertarian. Democrats want BIG GOVERNMENT. So, I guess you aren't one? Listen I don't like more and more laws, but some make sense. I was unemployed, I collected, but I didn't do drugs or smoke dope during that time. If I had, that would have impeded my abilities to find work. Hence, drug tests are reasonable and warranted.
I hope you aren't a liberal, if you aren't, you shouldn't be offended by anything I said ... I do get carried away sometimes, off on a tangent. All of these things on problems in America - we are broke and soon the debt will collapse us. At least we have a temporary respite with the good economy until. Unfortunately, I don't think Trump will make America great again, it won't be his fault though, he is trying but faces great odds.

NothingIsImpossible · Nov 20, 2018

As someone who gets government assitance, I am 100% fine with this. Why? Because most of the people I know getting it abuse drinking or drugs. If you got money for either of those then you need not be on assistance. And the only reason anyone wouldn't want these tests is because they know they would not pass them.

variant · Nov 20, 2018

Fantine said:
Rick Scott made tons of money drug-testing welfare and SNAP beneficiaries. He used to own a drug testing company--which, when he became governor (now Senator) he sold to his wife.

Of course his wife's company got the exclusive contract. The texts revealed so few drug takers that Florida lost millions--which went into Scott's wife's pockets.

Who wants to bet that he'll be bidding for contracts for the country?

These tests are not cost-effective. They are punitive and designed to lead people to believe that ALL unemployed people are "guilty."

There were two high schools in my town--the "poor" high school and the "rich" high school. The joke was that the students in the "poor" high school would sell drugs--and the "rich" high school students would take them. I think this is true in life, too. The poor can't afford all these drugs!

They keep electing that guy. Defrauded medicare, obvious conflicts of interest. True unadulterated corruption, and he keeps getting elected.

Babe Ruth · Nov 20, 2018

Sparagmos said:
..Most jobs don’t drug test you unless they are suspicious, so no, many working people aren’t drug free. Finally, not everyone who uses drugs is “doped out on drugs.”..

Sparag, hi. What is your source on 'most jobs don't drug test..' (?)
I'm asking because the last 3 or 4 jobs I've had, all drug tested me before my hiring was finalized. That's just my anecdotal experience, but I think drug screening is a lot more common than u suggest..

I agree with u tho, (again from my personal experience, with jobsites that don't test) that some drug users can still be good, high-functioning employees (not always doped out/ useless, etc).

I don't think a drug test (for unemployment) is unfair, or inconsistent with the other invasions of privacy we all live with now..

Hank77 · Nov 20, 2018

trunks2k said:
I would also argue over the reasoning. Sure, I can see that you wouldn't want someone who opts to just stay home and shoot heroin from getting unemployment benefits. But a person who smokes a joint? If so, why not a person who drinks a beer? What other moral failings apply and does drug testing accurately reflect whether you fall into that category?

We could add gambling to the list.
Where are the funds coming from for all this testing? From the unemployment funds or from the taxpayers?
This is just another gift to corporations who would pay for drug testing themselves when hiring. If people are denied the employer's unemployment payments are not increased.
What are they going to do if someone tests positive, have them arrested?

Unemployment pays to keep a roof over a families head, a car payment so that they can actually look for work and get to a job. It's just as important to the innocent ones in a family as food stamps are.
So the provider can't provide and the family goes on full blown welfare. Brilliant!

Gigimo · Nov 20, 2018

Being responsible seems to be a 4 letter word.

comana · Nov 20, 2018

Babe Ruth said:
Sparag, hi. What is your source on 'most jobs don't drug test..' (?)
I'm asking because the last 3 or 4 jobs I've had, all drug tested me before my hiring was finalized. That's just my anecdotal experience, but I think drug screening is a lot more common than u suggest..

I agree with u tho, (again from my personal experience, with jobsites that don't test) that some drug users can still be good, high-functioning employees (not always doped out/ useless, etc).

I don't think a drug test (for unemployment) is unfair, or inconsistent with the other invasions of privacy we all live with now..

I know I am not who you replying to, but in my experience, pre-employment or random while employed only happens for certain types of jobs. I have only had two jobs with that requirement for which one was for a hospital that required employees to be drug and tobacco free, and the other was an auto dealer which needed to ensure safety on the job. All my other employers had no interest as long as I performed my job. I really do not believe it is a requirement for the majority of jobs.

Hank77 · Nov 20, 2018

Johnny4ChristJesus said:
but I don't understand why they should get financial help from the government

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Unemployment Insurance program is funded through unemployment insurance taxes paid by employers and collected by the state and federal government. The taxes are part of the often-discussed payroll taxes all employers pay. Employers pay federal taxes of 6 percent on the first $7,000 in annual income earned by every employee. Employers who pay on time get a tax break at 5.4 percent.

The amount collected by each state varies as does the amount of income it is collected on—the first $7,000 to $34,000 an employee earns each year, depending on the state. States create their tax systems based on the costs needed to cover their unemployment claims.
....
During times of increased need, such as the Great Recession, benefits may be changed on a national level using additional funds. This usually comes in the form of extending the time individuals can receive benefits over the 26 week maximum offered in most states. The loan fund is reserved for bridging gaps for states that run out of unemployment insurance money during times of heightened unemployment. State’s who borrow from this pot of money are responsible for paying it back.
Where Do Unemployment Benefit Funds Come From?

Employers pay not the government.

PreviouslySeeking... · Nov 20, 2018

This is a waste of money that I don't support. It honestly doesn't matter if you think drug use is immoral or just don't want tax dollars paying for them. It will cost more to test everyone applying for unemployment than it would possibly save. I do not want to waste more money.

Hank77 · Nov 20, 2018

Gigimo said:
Being responsible seems to be a 4 letter word.

Have you ever been laid off? Where I live construction workers are laid off every winter. Resort workers are laid off for about 2 months every spring and every fall. Most of these workers are laid off job attached. I'm not talking about a few people here, I talking about a couple thousand. Now take that state wide in my state we're talking about at least a couple 100,000, maybe more.

Again where is the logic in drug testing these people every time they are laid off. Where's the money suppose to come from to do that?

Hank77 · Nov 20, 2018

Ronald said:
I collected, but I didn't do drugs or smoke dope during that time. If I had, that would have impeded my abilities to find work. Hence, drug tests are reasonable and warranted.

How many times do you think someone on unemployment would need to be tested, every month, twice a month? According to you they would have to be to make sure they weren't impeding their ability to find work.
It just doesn't make any sense.

Gigimo · Nov 21, 2018

Hank77 said:
Have you ever been laid off? Where I live construction workers are laid off every winter. Resort workers are laid off for about 2 months every spring and every fall. Most of these workers are laid off job attached. I'm not talking about a few people here, I talking about a couple thousand. Now take that state wide in my state we're talking about at least a couple 100,000, maybe more.

Again where is the logic in drug testing these people every time they are laid off. Where's the money suppose to come from to do that?

I agree it would be a waste for them. I think the point is the chronic cases who get a job for a few days and go back on the program and milk it for all it's worth, wash, rinse, repeat. And the ones who eventually find a way to get on disability and scam them when the unemployment payments run out.

grasping the after wind · Nov 21, 2018

camille70 said:
For food stamps it was because it was a waste of money. They spent millions testing people to catch 4% or less of people using drugs. More money on the testing than the benefits denied. Millions that could have been used to actually help people. I'd think that for something like unemployment the rate would be a bit higher, but most likely it will also be a waste of money, and though I'm not a drug user, I'd be upset if I'd paid into something my entire working life and was told I couldn't access it because of that or any other reason.

According to the link I posted, none of the people who were identified for the food stamps drug testing ended up getting help for their issue. So that leaves them poor, hungry, still with a drug issue, and more likely to commit a crime against me or your if they are desperate enough and trying to survive. Are you going to be ok when they move to do this for social security, or other benefits? Give it time.

Republicans want to drug test for unemployment benefits

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