Pubdate: Sat, 02 Jul 2011
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI)
Copyright: 2011 Journal Sentinel Inc.
Contact: http://www.jsonline.com/general/30627794.html
Website: http://www.jsonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/265
Author: James E. Causey
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

FAILED DRUG TEST, LOST SAFETY NET

Fail a drug test or refuse to take one and you can lose your 
unemployment benefits.

It's now the law in Wisconsin.

Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester), co-chair of the Joint Finance 
Committee, originally wanted a failed drug test to result in a 
yearlong ban, but the feds said that went too far. The compromise is 
a four-week ban.

I know some of you are thinking, " Why should anyone receive an 
unemployment check for getting high?"

Good point. But I don't think it's that cut and dried. The law leaves 
too many unanswered questions. More on that later.

But while you let that marinate, consider the second provision of the 
law that affects people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.

In an effort to save between $41 million to $56 million a year, 
anyone who loses a job will not get an unemployment check for the 
first week of unemployment.

Vos said workers typically receive their last paycheck shortly after 
they are laid off, so a week lag time in jobless benefits shouldn't 
make a difference.

It may not make a difference if you have a working spouse or if 
you're making $15 an hour, but if you're a single mom, working 
minimum wage while going to school, it could be the difference in 
having enough food or shelter.

If you've never been laid off, this may be hard for you to 
understand. So let me educate you: Unemployment is not a government handout.

The recession has taken a big toll on unemployment, and states such 
as Wisconsin have been forced to borrow money to pay for extended 
unemployment for all the people out of work.

Now, politicians are coming up with creative ways to save money - 
such as suspending unemployment to people who fail a drug test.

Vos told me that the law is not intended to target any group of people.

While that may not be Vos' intent, it will no doubt penalize the 
people who least can afford the hit.

All you have to do is look at the impact on African-American men in 
Milwaukee. The state is one of the nation's leaders in the number of 
African-American men incarcerated, on probation or parole.

Milwaukee's black male unemployment rate is 34%, or more than double 
the national average of 16% for black males.

But you don't have to take my word for it. I talked to a 43-year-old 
Milwaukee man who was fired two months ago due to a failed drug test.

He did not want to give me his name, but he knows he made a mistake. 
He also says that he should be entitled to the money that he earned 
in unemployment benefits while working.

"I had a little problem, and we parted ways, but I should be entitled 
to what's mine. I earned it," he said.

He is currently working with the Milwaukee Urban League to overcome 
his barriers to employment.

The 19-member Global Commission on Drug Policy last month declared 
what we already knew - that the war on drugs was lost. The commission 
will now focus on programs that promote economic and social 
development. It should focus on building more drug and alcohol 
treatment centers in the areas most affected instead of the revolving 
door of locking up minority men for minor drug offenses.

I'm not making excuses for people who use illegal drugs, but if we 
have a law that will take away someone's unemployment benefits for 
failing a drug test or a refusal to take one, then the lack of drug 
treatment facilities needs to be addressed.

When I asked Vos if the next target would be people who receive 
public housing entitlements, he said it's a "possibility down the road."

Chicago already has done it. Renters in public housing in the Windy 
City are already required to undergo mandatory drug testing to keep 
their residences. If they fail, they're evicted.

What about the children?

It's a good question, but no one seems to have an answer.

I guess when a drug war is lost, the kids become expendable.

James E. Causey is a Journal Sentinel editorial writer and columnist.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom