Pubdate: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 Source: Kansas City Star (MO) Copyright: 2001 The Kansas City Star Contact: http://www.kcstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/221 Author: Jim Kistler Note: Jim Kistler is director of government affairs for Associated Industries of Missouri. MISSOURI SHOULDN'T REWARD ILLEGAL DRUG USERS Just Say No. This is the message of Missouri employers to the Missouri Department of Labor. Common sense dictates the state of Missouri should say no when asked to provide tax money to illegal drug users. However, two recent cases permit employees, who are fired from their jobs for illegal drug use, to collect state unemployment checks. A quick review reveals a disturbing trend. In both cases, scientific evidence of illegal drug use was ignored. In one case, the Appeals Tribunal of the Division of Employment Security found scientific test results were to be given "no credibility/weight in this decision." Instead, the ruling faults the employer for not asking the employee if he/she used illegal drugs. Despite scientific tests indicating the use of an illegal drug, and no evidence suggested that the test was wrong, this tribunal concluded "the employer provided no credible evidence" of misconduct. Associated Industries of Missouri believes legislation is needed to strengthen Missouri's policies discouraging illegal drug use. After weeks of work, we achieved language that had the blessing of the state and federal departments of labor. Or so we thought. After achieving this compromise, the Missouri Department of Labor began a systematic effort to eliminate bills that might serve in a capacity to pass this legislation. Inside the Capitol, even common sense proposals do not pass easily. Senate Bill 114, sponsored by Sen. John Loudon of Ballwin, simply states employees fired for illegal drug use cannot collect state tax money, in the form of unemployment, for the first four weeks. After this, the state may award unemployment benefits. Opponents are quick to point out this proposal will be unfair to recreational drug users. Recreational drug users? Are those people who use illegal drugs before work, after work, or on weekends, but not during work? Opponents also suggest illegal drug users will be treated differently than people who don't use illegal drugs. I believe the laws prohibiting the use of illegal drugs were designed to treat drug abusers differently. Current laws already allow those caught using illegal drugs to go to jail, lose their homes and cars or forfeit cash. Since taxpayers cannot be sure their tax money will not be used to purchase illegal drugs, the state should just say no. Associated Industries of Missouri urges taxpayers to send a message to the Missouri Department of Labor and to legislators. Stop sending state tax dollars to people fired from their jobs for using illegal drugs. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom