DRUG TESTS WILL FIX WASTED WELFARE CASH

There is a good chance that before you got your job, you were drug
tested first. Now, heads of families who receive welfare will also
be.

Gov. Rick Scott is expected to sign legislation that would make all
welfare recipients pass a drug test before they get their check. The
legislation, House Bill 353, has already passed the Florida Senate and
House.

While I believe that all needy families should get as much help as
possible, it is also important that the heads of the families help
themselves.

Approximately 113,340 families in Florida currently receive welfare
checks, according to a recent article in The Miami Herald. The term
"welfare" actually refers to the Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families program, which writes monthly checks to two types of
families. One is for an adult whose income falls below the federal
poverty level. The second type is written to family members on behalf
of a child in their care.

Each drug test typically costs $35, but those who pass the test will
be reimbursed by having their benefits increased by the cost of the
test. Parents who fail the first time will lose their benefits for a
year. If they fail a second time, they will lose their benefits for
three years. If a parent fails their test, they must designate another
adult to receive benefits on behalf of their dependents.

While it would be horrible to prevent needy children from getting
money they could use, it would also be horrible for the government to
pay adults who don't deserve money.

The welfare program is meant to help children get the necessities they
need, such as food, clothing and school supplies, not drugs. Anyone
who knows a drug addict knows that they will do anything to get money
for more drugs, such as lie, steal and cheat. If the government gives
them money to spend on their children, they might not spend it properly.

I think that drug testing welfare recipients will positively affect
the welfare program and Florida in general. It shows the citizens of
the state that drug addiction is something that is not supported and
something that can ruin your life.

The truth is that while welfare is a great program, one day it may be
cut all together. Many federal and state programs have faced budget
cuts, such as Planned Parenthood and Bright Futures.

More and more families are struggling, and the number of people
joining the program has been going up. It would help to weed out the
individuals who are not being responsible and are not using the
program appropriately. In fact, not many people will be affected by
the new requirement.

A pilot program started in the Jacksonville area between 1999 and 2001
found that of the nearly 8,800 welfare recipients in the area, only
335 failed the test, according to the Herald. As stated previously,
even if a parent fails a drug test, their children still get the money
through another responsible adult.

Government programs are supported by tax payers and are supposed to
help people who really need it. As a tax payer, I don't want my money
to fund drugs for addicts. By drug testing welfare recipients, I think
we can give money to people who need it and prevent tax money from
being wasted.

Hopefully, this will make people reconsider doing drugs and force them
to realize the consequences of their actions.