Drug test for welfare recipients
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Drug test for welfare recipients

Date: January 27, 2010
By: Alex Klingelhoeffer
State Capitol Bureau

Intro:  Crack heads and other dopers would lose their welfare benefits under a measure presented to a Missouri Senate Committee Tuesday.
RunTime:  0:36
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Four similar bills which would require Temporary Aid for Needy Families participants to be screened and tested for drugs were heard before the Senate Health Committee.

One of the bill sponsors in Cape Girardeau Republican Senator Jason Crowell:

Actuality:  COWELL.WAV
Run Time:  00:07
Description: "I do not think it is unreasonable to request that you be drug free, and I think many tax payers expect that."

On the other side, Democratic Senator Jolie Justus says the testing and drug treatment requirements would impose too high of a cost on the state.

The committee took no immediate action on the measure.

From the State Capitol, I'm Alex Klingelhoeffer.

Intro:  Democratic opposition surfaced Tuesday to four similar measures which would aim to keep drug users off of welfare.
RunTime:  0:36
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Senators heard legislation during a committee hearing which would mandate drug screening and testing for participants in the Temporary Aid for Needy Families program.

Democratic Senator Jolie Justus says the cost of screening and treatments for those who fail tests would be too high.

Actuality:  JUSTUS.WAV
Run Time:  00:07
Description: "Not only is there a waiting list of 3,000 people, they're actually not letting anyone on the waiting list because the waiting list has gotten so long."

Sponsor of one of the bills Republican Senator Scott Rupp said that the State should avoid enabling drug use.

No action has been taken on any of the bills.

From the State Capitol, I'm Alex Klingelhoeffer.