MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker approved a rule submitted by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF), which is another step forward in implementing drug testing of able-bodied adults seeking certain welfare benefits.
“Our 2015-17 State Budget implements common-sense reforms that put in place drug screening, testing, and treatment mechanisms, so we can continue strengthening Wisconsin’s workforce,” said Governor Walker. “Employers across the state frequently tell me they have good-paying jobs available in high-demand fields, but need their workers to be drug-free. These important entitlement reforms will help more people find family-supporting jobs, moving them from government dependence to true independence.”
DCF’s newly-approved rule is the next step in the process as they develop and implement their drug screening and testing for certain able-bodied adults seeking benefits and/or training through Transform Milwaukee, Transitional Jobs, and noncustodial parents in the W-2 program. Under the plan, individuals who test positive for a controlled substance without a prescription would be eligible for a drug treatment plan.
This rule will go into effect on November 9, 2015.
Next up the Mark of The Beast. And soon, prison sentences for being poor along with unnecessary criminal charges will destroy so many lives and overburden what little social services Amerika has left. Maybe Wisconsin will reintroduce the Poor Houses to make life even worse for those who make $9.00 an hour. And, how much is all this costing and I can bet a lot of the state senators and the Koch Brothers have a large stake in these for profit industries.Wisconsin is a blight on Amerika and the working class, why are people putting up with this BS, are they hoping for a return to slavery?. Who in Gods name votes for these people, oh right the Koch Brothers and all their billions takes care of that system. Can we drug test them and all the other state representatives?
For which drugs are they going to screen? A FULL screen is very expensive. I can imagine Wisconsin spending more on drug screening tests than they spend on welfare.
A complete tox screen is very expensive, yes. But the cups that employers use are pretty inexpensive. They buy them in bulk. These cups have a thermometer on them, and it’s a random. If there’s anything in the system…..pot, meth, pain pills, opioids, etc, the test will read as positive. I think they average about 7 to 10 dollars a piece. 10 bucks is a huge drop compared to the benefits the welfare recipients are receiving.
It cost Missouri about $340,000 to run their drug screen program on TANF applicants. Out of the 38,000+ applicants, about 450 were tested – about $900 per test, and around 10% tested positive. That isn’t a great return on the money.
$900? Sounds like price gouging. Even a tox screen at Mercy runs approx. 400. And those screens show Exactly what is in their system. The drug cups are good enough for many many employers. A positive is a positive. If someone comes up positive with the cups, then go for the more expensive screen if they feel it necessary to see what kind of drugs are being used.
I am sure that the price includes a variety of other costs that go along with the testing.
Just imagine the long line at the piss station when the farmers come to town to sell their subsidized grain at the elevator.
Sad But True — Im one of those but your wrong, I get 82%. why do I because I paid into a retirement system that gives me that much money, its not yours its mine
People on welfare are proof that socialism is needed in the world. The fit and able bodied will work because they can and like to…problem is they often set an unrealistic pace for the rest of us. Welfare is an offset to unrealistic money hungry capitalists. Balance in the universe will always be maintained. You want less welfare? Stop working so hard.
Waste of money…. 3 employees (at least) per county, $25K+ wages, plus insurance, plus other benefits — just to test people, most of whom aren’t on drugs anyway.
what about Government employees who work tell age 55-56 then retire, and we pay them 80% of their last wages for the rest of their life? Is that fare? Is that sustainable? Make more retired than they did when they (worked)
I don’t think government employees are paid 80% of their wages for life. But for the sake of argument even if what you say is true at least they worked for 30 plus years to receive this benefit. They just didn’t sit on their butts and sucked the system for all its worth.
So its a persons own fault if they are unemployed? Funny, think of the effort and time to actually get a job. First you have to spend about a week looking and applying, than wait about a week for background checks. Then, if you are lucky, you get your first interview and possibly a second, which takes about a week or so. And if you aren’t called back, that is one month of bills you are behind and you need to start over. Let us know your magic formula to get off our lazy butts and get a job within a week so we don’t lose our homes and can still afford to eat and use the horrible public transportation system to get to the interviews, since I am sure you think transportation is as easy to find without a job. I wish I had your high horse to look down upon all the people who you think are lazy. Pray you never lose your job and have someone post such an idiotic and uneducated comment when you are down on your luck. In Amerika, all it takes is about one month without a job to become homeless and it can happen to anybody, except of course you, since you are not lazy.
I’m confused, what government employees can retire at 55-56. I’m thinking that most government employees pay into a retirement fund that is supported by the employee and employer. It’s self regulated and seems to work pretty good, as long as the government keeps it’s fingers out of it. I think that if you pay into it, you should be able to draw out of it, kind of like social security.
And I don’t think they can retire at 55-56 and still get full benefits. You need to verify what you say. I suppose anyone can retire whenever they want, if they want to and have the means to do that.
This has been proven to be a financial waste any time it’s been implemented in other states. It costs significantly more taxpayer money than it saves by catching the small amount of welfare recipients who test positive.
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/02/26/3624447/tanf-drug-testing-states/
I guess you really can’t fix stupid!!!!!
If you were drafted into military service the gubment owes you and that’s not welfare.
If you enlisted, did your time, got paid for the job and now get lifetime perks compliments of the rest of us, sounds like welfare.
well the farmers better lineup
I totally agree with “LVS” social security and VA is earn by hard work and knocks. Welfare is suppose to be a short term helping hand and too many people think its their right to sponge off the rest of us. If a person on welfare fails a drug test they should be removed right away.
Drug test social security recipients too. And VA benefits.
S.S. and VA are earned. welfare is not. That is a big difference.
Well said LVS! Totally agree
The fact is that someone your age, 71 if the Internets are to be believed, is expected to take about 150 percent more out of S.S. than what you paid in. http://bit.ly/1cdkecp So I suppose once you hit that threshold you too will be taking money from the government you didn’t put in.
It’s been shown multiple times that drug testing welfare recipients actually costs taxpayers money, but I know it makes you feel good so that doesn’t matter.
@Blackie-I guess you forgot that I paid a hell of a lot of taxes and still am. Somewhat different than welfare isn’t it. As a matter of fact we still pay S.S. I would guess you feel kind of foolish now don’t you?
Oh man, you got me there LVS. I’m a fool. I’ll just slink into that logical hole I came out of… but before I go, how are the non-S.S. taxes we all pay for things like roads, a military and those prisons for drug offenders you love so much relevant to the idea that you will most likely take more money out of S.S. than you ever put in?
@Blackie-I can see you really have a problem understanding what is written. I said, we ARE still paying into S.S. and still paying other taxes which might go to subsidize S.S. In other words, we are paying for what we get. Now, I don’t know about you. You could be one of the welfare babies that are collecting taxpayer money without paying in. Are you?
Sorry, no dice there LVS. I’ve been employed and paying taxes since I was 16 (in my 30s now). The difference is that there’s a good chance I won’t ever see a dime of S.S. money in 30 years if Republicans have their way. The thing you don’t seem to understand is that the money you put in wasn’t for you, it was for the elderly at the time you were paying it. Just like what I pay in now is going to you.
@Blackie-The thing you don’t understand is that we are STILL paying in. And, if the damn government hadn’t stole the money from S.S. it would still be solvent and making enough in interest that you wouldn’t have to worry. If you are going to be pissed be pissed at that and they just did it again. Both party’s are guilty.
Finally, somebody with some balls to stand up and test welfare recipients. Anybody that’s on any form of government welfare, needs to be tested, randomly, at least once a year.
“Anybody that’s on any form of government welfare, needs to be tested”
Does that include:
Farmers receiving welfare (just called subsidies)
Any business receving goverment assistance in any form
This is for welfare recipients that are able bodied to work, but would rather have the hand outs. There’s nothing wrong with drug testing these people. In most jobs now a new employee is required to pass a drug test, why not welfare. There’s people out there that are professionals at working the welfare and food stamps program. Some that have been on it for years. Having more children that they can take care of, and alot of them smoke cigarettes. I work….hard. And I’m tired of footing the bill for people that just don’t want to work. Test them. It should be required in every state.
Well said, I also think they should be randomly tested for the duration they are on welfare not just when they are applying for the first time.