Scott Walker wants drug testing for public benefits recipients

This is a dumb idea.

Gov. Scott Walker is laying out his vision for a second term, pledging to freeze technical college tuition in the state, cut income taxes and test working-age recipients of public benefits for drugs.

With less than two months to go in a tight re-election race, the Republican governor put forward a 62-page plan that sums up the actions of his first term, defends them against the critique of his Democratic rival, former Trek Bicycle executive Mary Burke, and offers several new proposals.

“It’s our next wave of the Wisconsin comeback. It’s our plan to make sure that everyone who wants a job can find a job,” Walker said in a telephone interview.

Few details were included on the new proposals, but advocates for the needy said the drug testing proposal for jobless and food stamp benefits would violate federal law — a complication that killed a similar proposal promoted by Republican lawmakers in 2011. Walker himself acknowledged the potential for conflict but said the move was still right for the state.

Putting aside the fact that the State of Wisconsin can’t legally mandate that those receiving public benefits funded by the federal government submit to drug testing, it’s notable that a similar drug testing program for public benefit recipients in Florida ended up costing taxpayers more than it saved them.

At least, that was the idea. In practice, the policy failed spectacularly – only about 2 percent of applicants tested positive, and Florida lost money when it was forced to reimburse everyone else for the cost of the drug test, plus pay for staff and administrative costs for the program.

Not surprisingly, Gov. Walker offered no details on the estimated cost of mandatory drug tests for recipients of public benefits, nor did he provide any guarantees that the program would actually save Wisconsin’s taxpayers any money.

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9 thoughts on “Scott Walker wants drug testing for public benefits recipients

  1. Walker said drug testing was a requirement for a career in Wisconsin . That being the case he and his legislators should also be required to fill the cup. After all they are receiving taxpayers money just like the aid recipients. We all know he just wants to punish those in need, humiliate them with the hopes that they will leave the state. This punitive approach appeals to his Tea Party base. Can anyone think of something more disheartening than having lost your job because of Walker’s failed policies and to please him you have to pee in a cup to get your unemployment compensation check. The man is a disgrace to humankind!

    1. Breathalyzer per per diem claim, prior to 8:00 AM for all state level legislators and Walker appointed Dept heads.

      1. And after noon “business lunches.” Especially after private meetings to discuss WEDC tax credits.

  2. Agree with Jerry.

    Also, start at the national level with the biggest welfare queens, Wall Street.

    “Bank Of America Dumps $75 Trillion In Derivatives On U.S. Taxpayers With Federal Approval”

    http://seekingalpha.com/article/301260-bank-of-america-dumps-75-trillion-in-derivatives-on-u-s-taxpayers-with-federal-approval

    To put $75 trillion in perspective, US GDP in 2012 was around $16.5 trillion. We blew a lot more than the $6 trillion they’re claiming in Iraq and Afghanistan. Social Security’s Trust Fund is around $2.3 trillion. Bank of America is just one Wall Street bank. They all have derivative exposure. I’ve seen estimates of $700 trillion, but I don’t think anyone knows.

    1. Jerry would fail a drug test and so would you!
      WTF does the OP have to do with Wall Street?! Sorry I asked, don’t bother answering. I mean cut/paste/link/fillibuster….

      1. ig,

        I’m sorry you missed

        “p-u-b-l-i-c

        b-e-n-e-f-i-t

        r-e-c-i-p-i-e-n-t-s”

        in the TITLE.

        How long has it been since your last eye exam?

  3. It shows the extent of their campaign’s desperation, pulling this idea (that clearly didn’t work in other states) out to deflect blame onto the jobless for the dismal failure of his policies that were promised to create 250,000 jobs. Anything to change the subject from his awful 3+ years as chief economy-wrecker.

    “Those that want a job…” plays into the same blame game that Paul Ryan promotes, dog whistles and all, as does drug testing for those “worthy” of receiving aid from what remains of the government safety net.

    Considering this latest state budget shortfall, WEDC has given out a lot of financial incentives to businesses promising jobs, with very few jobs to show for it. I think the drug testing should instead be directed at those who dreamed up and carried out this obvious policy disaster.

  4. I live in Wisconsin and have worked many jobs most of which require a drug test some even follow up tests periodically, why do I have to get drug tested while the people collecting the tax money I pay to the government don’t? I mean to work drug tests are mandatory or you won’t get a job to make money so why can you get handouts but a drug test out of the question and they’re not humiliating just a fact of working

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