Welfare Reform Drug Testing for Government Assistance...

Drug testing should be mandatory in all states for those receiving or applying for government assistance, such as TANF (Transitional Assistance to Needy Families), SNAP, Unemployment Benefits and even those receiving Pell Grants to continue their education; or should it? This is a question everyone has an opinion on from the politicians to the general public. I will attempt to show arguments against and for the program of drug testing that has already been adopted in some states, such as Florida (Tarren Bragdon, Foundation for Government Accountability), Arizona and Missouri (Aileen, Suitcase Clinic). Welfare is defined as: of, relating to, or concerned with welfare and especially with improvement of disadvantaged social groups†¦show more content†¦The children should not suffer because of the actions of their guardians. They depend on the traditional Welfare system. (Robert Rector, The Heritage Foundation, pg. 4). â€Å"Practically, drug tests would only identify those recipients who had recently used drugs, not those who have alcohol and drug problems and need treatment.† (pg.1). They also believe that alcohol is a â€Å"far bigger problem than illegal drug use.† (pg. 1) How about students going to school, continuing their education using the FAFSA or â€Å"Pell Grants;† or those receiving unemployment benefits, using the money the have worked so hard for? They also need assistance to continue said education and be able to apply for jobs and/or become productive, self-sufficient, responsible members of society. The women especially have been the focus of â€Å"The 1996 Welfare Reform Act.† (American Civil Liberties Union, pg. 1). Republicans intended to use this law to â€Å"require as many people as possible to leave the welfare system in search of self-sufficiency. (Ron Haskins, Brookings). These are all great arguments of the topic at hand. Now I will attempt to show the arguments of those who are ‘for’ the drug testing of welfare recipients and for those applying for assistance. The 1st argument was on the cost of drug testing not only on those being tested, but also the cost of the federal/state/local governments. Though this is a valid argument,Show MoreRelatedThe Issue Of Drug Testing Welfare Recipients And Applicants1231 Words   |  5 Pagesissue of drug testing welfare recipients and applicants. The journals and articles used to determine whether drug testing is necessary or a hindrance to public assistance applicants, recipients and the government vary in their argument on the effects of those who receive assistance. The study, completed by Anderson, Shannon, Schyb and Goldstein (2002) determined that, due to the change in Welfare reform in 1996, the disruption of benefits increased the risk homelessness and usage of drugs and alcoholRead MoreWelfare Drug Testing Persuasive Speech1704 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction a.i) Government assistance, or welfare, is a very broad term. There are many different welfare programs available in the United States e.g., food stamps, cash assistance, and government housing. Currently there is mass debate, in courtrooms across the U.S., regarding the legality and morality of pre-assistance drug testing. This report is intended to familiarize the reader with the history of welfare reform; the histories of drug testing in regards to assistance eligibility; and persuadeRead MoreEssay about Drug Testing For Missouri Welfare Recipients907 Words   |  4 Pagesof Representatives passed a bill and sent it to the senate that would require drug testing for those receiving state Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) funds. Funding from food stamps, medicare, and public housing would not be affected by this bill (Keller – House). According to Columbia Tribune reporter Rudi Keller, the bill is very similar to the Arizona law which is the only other state th at tests welfare recipients. Missouri and Arizona would use a questionare and interview which wouldRead MoreDrug Testing Welfare Recipients Essay1114 Words   |  5 Pagesthat in order to obtain a job, some people go through drug testing while drug and alcohol abusers receive free, no strings attached, financial assistance (see appendix A)? Food stamps and Medicaid are provided to low and no income Americans who would otherwise do without. According to heritage.org, a majority of the illegal drug use in American adults is tied to unemployed citizens. While there are many people who disagree with testing welfare recipients, the truth is that the pros greatly outweighRead MoreBenefits of Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Essay1330 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Random drug screening involves the experimental analysis that utilizes specimens such as saliva, hair, blood or urine in order to determine the presence of certain drugs or their metabolites. These tests are usually done to ascertain the presence or absence of prohibited drugs or steroids. On the other hand, the state welfare assistance/ government assistance is a government funded program that was started in 1930 during which period US citizens and the rest of the world were facingRead MoreShould Drug Testing Welfare Recipients?1679 Words   |  7 Pagesthose who test positive for drugs should be able to receive welfare. It was an argument that flooded social media, arguments filling comments with opinions. It is a subject that continues to be discussed within our peer groups, our communities, and our states. This paper will discuss the opinions of individual’s within the country, the beneficial factors of drug testing welfare recipients as well as the unbeneficial factors , as well as who decides if drug testing welfare recipients goes into effectRead MoreDrug Testing the Less Fortunate 1023 Words   |  4 PagesShould drug testing be a necessity for all state and federal aid programs? Drug testing welfare recipients have been a major issue across the United States for a few years now. Many indicate that if working class people are subject to a test prior to hire or randomly during the duration of employment, why should those that don’t have to work for money not have the same treatment? The government estimated that random annual drug testing for welfare recipients would cost each taxpayer an additionalRead MoreEssay On Drug Testing956 Words   |  4 Pagesreceive government assistance had to be drug tested prior to receiving help, like many who must be tested to keep their job? Many people must go through drug testing to get a job, then after they have it, they may be selected to be randomly tested again to keep their job. There are pe ople down on their luck or going through a rough patch where they need to receive government assistance, nothing but an application needs to be filled out prior to receiving payment from the government. Drug testingRead MoreOur Current US Welfare System Is in Urgent Need of Reform Essay1294 Words   |  6 PagesWelfare is a government program that provides food, money, housing, medical care, and other things people need in order to survive. These programs are designed to help elderly, children, disabled individuals who cannot support their families on their current income. In order to qualify for assistance the individual’s income must be below the poverty line. There are about sixty assistance programs, however most people receive help though Social Security, Medicaid, food stamps and Temporary AssistanceRead MoreDoes Welfare Encourage Dependency?1368 Words   |  6 PagesJar’ee Rhodes Professor Davis ENC 1102 16 July 2012 Does Welfare Encourage Dependency? Created by Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression, the idea of welfare was to help those who are living in poverty and need help to feed their families. Since then, welfare has helped people in many ways, such as unemployment insurance and food stamps. However, with over 4.4 million people, Welfare has evolved from a program that is designed to help people who have fallen on hard times, into a