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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom