The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

March 10, 2009

Welfare drug testing bill reaches House list

Mannix Porterfield

CHARLESTON — Delegate Craig Blair cautioned opponents of his proposed “two strikes and you’re out” drug testing of welfare and jobless recipients that opposition could trigger voter resentment.

“There could be a backlash if this bill is opposed,” Blair, R-Berkeley, suggested Tuesday, after his long-awaited and controversial bill at last made the House list.

Blair is calling for random drug testing of anyone getting a welfare check, food stamps or unemployment benefits.

Anyone testing positive would be given two months to go through rehabilitation, but if a second test afterward also shows evidence of illegal narcotics, then all public assistance would be shut off immediately.

Blair said he and the supporters of the bill, which include one Democrat, Tom Louisos of Fayette County, plan to write House Judiciary Chair Carrie Webster, D-Kanawha, a letter, asking her to place the bill on her committee agenda for a hearing.

If Webster refuses to bring the bill up, Blair indicated the matter could become a political issue for the Republicans.

“The public overwhelmingly supports this bill,” the Eastern Panhandle lawmaker said.

“And I would be afraid to keep it from being put before a vote.”

Not only must the measure get through Webster’s committee, but also needs to be aired by the finance committee.

Blair has erected a special Web site dedicated to the issue, www.notwithmytaxdollars.com.

Co-sponsors of the controversial proposal also include nine fellow Republicans — Delegates Carol Miller and Kelli Sobonya, both Cabell County; Jonathan Miller and John Overington, Berkeley; Troy Andes and Patti Schoen, Putnam; John Ellem, Wood; Ron Walters, Kanawha; and Mitch Carmichael, Jackson.

Blair’s proposal likely will incur some keen opposition, not the least of which will be mounted by the American Civil Liberties Union, which sees it as an invasion of privacy rights.

Blair has said he feels any constitutional questions can be satisfied, and, at a news conference last week, the Republicans pointed to the federal welfare reform act in the Clinton administration that allowed states to stop payments to recipients if testing positive for drugs

Some Democrats in the House have questioned the wisdom of testing everyone on the dole, saying the cost could far exceed the number of those found with drugs.

Blair has countered by saying if one woman is weaned from drugs, it will mean one less child born addicted, and ultimately the savings to the state will be enormous.

“If you recall, House Speaker Rick Thompson (D-Wayne) promised to give issues fair and open hearings,” Blair said, shortly after the new bills list was released.

“So that’s all were asking — a fair and open hearing on this legislation.”

— E-mail:

mannix@register-herald.com

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