Pubdate: Tue, 22 Jan 2013
Source: Holland Sentinel (MI)
Copyright: 2013 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact: http://extra.hollandsentinel.com/submitletter.shtml
Website: http://www.hollandsentinel.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1145
Author: Timothy D. Barrett

DRUG TESTING FOR WELFARE RECIPIENTS IS A FAILED CONCEPT

Holland - In response to William Hapner's letter in Friday's Sentinel 
calling for drug tests for people applying for welfare: Florida is 
not the first state to enact a drug testing requirement for welfare 
recipients. Michigan enacted such a law many years ago, as did a 
handful of other states. These laws are not enforced because they 
were consistently found to be unconstitutional.

In addition to being unconstitutional, these laws have proven 
counter-productive. Florida already tried this before, and found that 
the law cost the state far more money than it saved, and that's just 
in direct costs. Factor in the indirect costs associated with 
increased crime and burden-shifting and these laws are a fiscal disaster

Research would have also shown Mr. Hapner that when Florida tried 
this before, it found that only 2.6 percent of welfare recipients 
were abusing drugs. Given that an estimated 9 percent of the general 
population abuse drugs, Mr. Hapner's statement that "I-95 and I-75 
will be jammed for the next month or so with druggies and deadbeats" 
is as ridiculous as it is offensive.

I completely understand the sentiment of taxpayers who don't want 
their hard-earned money being used to fund the evils of society. And 
where laws such as this are rooted in a desire to battle the disease 
of addiction, and to ensure that government funds are not being used 
to further self-destructive behaviors, good things can and do happen. 
But any law that is founded on emotion will inevitably do more harm than good.

Timothy D. Barrett

Holland
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