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Florida legislator wants random drug tests for the unemployed
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Employers have justified drug tests in the workplace by pointing to such negative effects of drug use as absenteeism and work-related injuries. Now a Florida legislator has proposed that random drug-testing also be applied to those receiving unemployment insurance, justifying it as a way to make state funds go further.
Florida State Senator Michael S. Bennett told Fox News host Steve Doocy on Monday that with the unemployment rate in his recession-battered state running between 10% and 11%, he worries that the Unemployment Trust Fund might be exhausted.
"I wanted to ensure that people who are qualified for unemployment -- that the money would be there when they actually go down and get unemployment and that we weren't supporting the people who were not able to go to work," Bennett explained. "It was nothing against the people who were using the drugs as much as it was to ensure that the people who needed unemployment, it would be there when they got there."
Bill Piper of the Drug Policy Alliance, which is dedicated to ending the "war on drugs," responded that "to require someone to pass a drug test to get their unemployment insurance after they've been laid off is pretty cruel -- and to require them to pay for the test themselves is even more cruel."
"It's a pretty degrading process," Piper went on. "You have to urinate in front of another person. ... You have to tell complete strangers if you're on birth control or Viagra or if you're suffering from depression."
"Normal, everyday Americans shouldn't have to go through that," insisted Piper. "We're talking about people who've already paid into the unemployment system. They've been working hard already, and it's simply unfair to throw another hurdle to feeding their families."
"He makes a good argument," Doocy agreed. "Unemployment insurance is money that people have already paid into the system. Why shouldn't they get it if they're laid off?"
"When you file for unemployment," Bennett replied, "basically you're saying 'I'm ready, willing, and -- quote -- able to go to work. If the person who pays into the unemployment has to pass a drug test ... to pay into it, surely the people who are taking out would not object to having to pass the same stringent test. ... If you're not able to go to work because you can't pass a drug test, why should you draw unemployment?"
"Clearly the people he's talking about were already capable of working," Piper commented. "They shouldn't have to take a drug test to prove something to any one."
Bennett, who recently proposed freezing the pay of county clerks and commissioners and similar low-level state employees, may be sincere in saying he is only trying to save money. However, according to election disclosure forms, he did receive a $500 donation to his 2006 election campaign from Abbott Laboratories, which provides workplace drug test kits. |
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Lawma...loyed_0316.html |
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| eger |
| Sounds like a way for them to get out of paying, but on the other hand they shouldn't be doing drugs. |
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| DJ Damerchi |
people shouldnt be doin drugs eh...
marijuana is not a drug. laws like this will just curve people towards alcoholism, since this legislator probably gets drunk as and jerks off in his backyard. |
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| KiNeTiC ENeRgY |
| Absolutely retarded attempt at motivating people, as well as another kick in the balls after losing your job. Of the different jobs I have had while in college, I never met a pothead who was not able to perform his job while stoned. That includes the guys cruising around on forklifts. Now if they were drunk, thats another story. |
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| Rose |
| *sigh* Florida......when will it ever stop? |
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| nchs09 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Rose
*sigh* Florida......when will it ever stop? |
you are unemployed though, and since most jobs drug test for you to get a job, and you are supposed to be actively looking for a job, ehhh it makes sense.
my friends, even pot heads dont smoke while actively looking for jobs. |
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| eger |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ Damerchi
people shouldnt be doin drugs eh...
marijuana is not a drug. laws like this will just curve people towards alcoholism, since this legislator probably gets drunk as and jerks off in his backyard. |
I'm all for smoking trees, but if your broke, need Gov. assistance and using $ to fund your habit then you have your priorities in the wrong place. |
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| Roweazie |
| I wonder how this would fall under "invasion of privacy law"? |
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| KiNeTiC ENeRgY |
| quote: | Originally posted by Roweazie
I wonder how this would fall under "invasion of privacy law"? |
Bush fixed that with being able to spy on anyone at any time without just cause or the need of a warrant :whip: |
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| winston |
more reasons why the government should legalize marihuana and tax the hell out of it, there is no reason to reject an employee because he/she uses a 'substance' which does not really affect their productivity, or does it? grey area.
anyways, it's a waste of resources. legalize it, profit. That's how I see it, anyways you shouldn't be smoking pot if you: can't afford it/actively looking for a stable job/can't pay your rent/etc. |
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| Audious |
I don't see how this is so terrible.
If you're collecting unemployment, it should be to get you from losing your current job to finding a new one. It's not dick around money to buy you don't need. I think they should apply this to other non-essentials.
If the government's giving you money because you simply don't have a job, I don't see why they can't decide what they want you to spend it on.
Edit: That being said, if you can hold a job, smoke weed, do blow, take pills to your heart's content, but if I'm paying for your ass cause you got fired, I'm not paying for your weed. |
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| KiNeTiC ENeRgY |
| quote: | Originally posted by Audious
I don't see how this is so terrible.
If you're collecting unemployment, it should be to get you from losing your current job to finding a new one. It's not dick around money to buy you don't need. I think they should apply this to other non-essentials.
If the government's giving you money because you simply don't have a job, I don't see why they can't decide what they want you to spend it on.
Edit: That being said, if you can hold a job, smoke weed, do blow, take pills to your heart's content, but if I'm paying for your ass cause you got fired, I'm not paying for your weed. |
If you were a tax payer at one point, then you are entitled to get it just like the other tools are, regardless of being a pot smoker or not. Uncle Sam should not be involved in what I want to put into MY body. |
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