Legislation was introduced Thursday in the Iowa Legislature that would require those receiving unemployment benefits to undergo random drug testing.
The bill was sponsored by Republicans Rich Arnold and Stewart Iverson.
House Floor Action, January 12, 2012:
The House convened at 8:32 a.m.
Prayer offered by Deacon Jim Obradovich of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Des Moines
Pledge of Allegiance led by Carter Bell, Minority Leader’s Page from Waukee
Introduction of Bills:
Announcements
Democrats will caucus immediately upon adjournment in Room 305
Republicans will caucus immediately upon adjournment in the Supreme Court Chamber
The House adjourned at 8:38 a.m. until Friday, January 13, 2011, at 10:00 a.m.
Senate Floor Action, January 12, 2012
The Senate convened at 9:07 a.m.
Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance
The Journal of Wednesday, January 11, 2012, was approved.
The Senate adjourned at 9:12 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 13, 2012.
Democrats and Republicans will caucus.
I say, test away, for disability, welfare and unemployment benefits. I will gladly vote for this and any candidate that is behind it.
And with that I will gladly vote for stricter employment drug screening standards. So we can stop the switcheroo urine tests, go to blood screening additionally.
We want to know his take on this invasion of his privacy not that he is a drug user (except when he admits to it in a written op-ed piece).
Present.
I would say that in the case of receiving welfare it is reasonable for recipients to be required to undergo drug screenings. In fact I would welcome it.
Important to note I believe this stipulation should only apply to healthy people who could work. If they are found dirty, then yes-benefits could be cut off; as the State doesn’t need to pay to support a person’s drug habit.
This should not apply however to people on disability, such as in the case of using medical cannabis to help alleviate their medical symptoms.
Drug use should be decriminalized…not subsidized.
Peter in case you haven’t noticed medical marijuana is not legal here in Iowa, regardless how long of a hangnail or sliver you have you can’t get a script for it.
We should not be paying for people to use a drug that has 70% more cancer causing agents then a cigarette and makes a person 1.5 times more likely to become scitzo. (Not making fun of the time you ran out of the hospital when the doc wanted to put ya in 5 east either)*
If they want medical Marijuana pass card to get around drug testing they can move to a state where it is legal let them suck their taxpayers dry.
I guessed you missed the latest article which debunks what you write.
I say everybody receiving benefits gets tested regardless of their health. If medical marijuana is not legal here, withhold their benefits until they either stop using ILLEGAL drugs or move away to a state that allows it. It is a win either way those using illegal drugs while receiving payment for walking to the mailbox either stop using or go leach off another state.
If you are working you will be drug tested, why should we not test people that our taxes are supporting. If they are on drugs they are not able to work and that is an automatic disqualification for unemployment. You must be ready, willig, and able to work at all times.
All persons receiving Government payments/aid of any kind, including government employees, should be randomly drug tested, especially those receiving a welfare check every month. Positive test results in no benefits – period! And, do remove illegals from the welfare system, even those 65 and over that come here and suck off Social Security. We have turned into a nation of “entitlements” and soon to become a dictatorship if we do not control government spending. The Liberal machine promotes persons dependency upon the government – it guarantees them votes!. Sad to say that roughly 40% of “Americans” depend upon the government for financial support and that does not include employees. RANDOM DRUG TESTING is a must!
So you telling me they worked a total of 11 minutes on the clock and want the unemployed drug tested?
Not only test the unemployed witch buy the way prob. 50% really don’t want to work anyway , test all the people collecting welfare @ ADC, we have become a welfare nation ,Send all the illegals home then we will have some jobs, think about it.
I agree that our elected leaders should be randomly drug tested. They are voting on how to spend our money and what laws need inacted at least we should know is that these republicans are clean themselves. I am sure Arnold and Iverson are not hypocrites and will put a bill on the floor to require themselves to be tested also.
How about randomly drug testing our elected leaders? Or are the laws they pass just for everyone else?