So apparently there were two states passing laws to punish poor people last week

Because you know all these reps are like “Nailed it.”

Think Progress had this first piece on Thursday by Nicole Flatow.  Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill last week to drug-test recipients of both welfare and unemployment. This makes Kansas the first state to implement the ALEC and Big Parma backed legislation because they will not be out done by other idiotic states. The law passed with a Democrat added provision to drug test legislators, but the provision is pretty weak. But tip of my hat to that Dem, who is at least trying.

The Wichita Eagle stated:

“The drug testing bill lets the Department for Children and Families require urine tests of any welfare recipient suspected of using illegal drugs. That could be triggered by a person’s demeanor, missed appointment or police records.

“Opponents of the bill said that may leave the decision open to people’s biases. But the bill was swiftly approved by the House 106-16 and backed by the Senate on a 29-9 vote […]

“Senate Bill 149, effective July 1, also bans anyone convicted of a drug-related felony from getting welfare for five years. Those convicted a second time lose benefits for life.

“The testing program for unemployment recipients is similar, although Department of Labor officials will require employers who usually drug test job applicants to submit a list of people who applied and didn’t get a job because they failed a pre-employment drug screen […]

“The state estimates it will need to hire four more employees to deal with drug testing and treatment management under the bill. The drug testing program and treatment is estimated to cost about $1 million the first year, after any savings from people losing benefits.”

In case you’re keeping score: 8 states have laws that test public benefit recipients or applicants, and 29 have introduced legislation in the last year.  A federal law passed last year authorized drug tests for unemployment beneficiaries. The bills keep spreading even through several courts have ruled to block state drug-testing laws as being potentially unconstitutional and all early indications show these laws are costing more money than just given the 2% of welfare recipients who use drugs benefits. The Florida law has been blocked by a federal appeals court back in February because, “The simple fact of seeking public assistance does not deprive a TANF applicant of the same constitutional protections from unreasonable searches that all other citizens enjoy.” The court also noted there is “nothing inherent to the condition of being impoverished that supports the conclusion that there is a ‘concrete danger' that impoverished individuals are prone to drug use or that should drug use occur.”

The Kansas law doesn’t mandate testing like the Florida law, but instead it requires “reasonable suspicion” to perform drug testing of already enrolled beneficiaries. Those who fail the first test can have their results retested at their own expense, and will be reimbursed by the state if the subsequent test is negative. If they test positive, they have to complete drug treatment and job skills programs before they are tested again and reconsidered.

Gov. Brownback, while signing the bill, called drug addiction a “scourge on Kansas,” but the law is vague on how to address addiction. Drug abuse programs are mandated for those who test positive, but there is nothing about an assessment in the law. Instead, it results in a poor person without income for six weeks while attending the program.

In a second story from last week it is North Carolina’s turn to shine. PolicyShop.net had a post by Ilana Novick last week on North Carolina’s legislature passing a background checks for social services bill. Novick begins by correctly asserting that you don’t need a background check to buy a gun in North Carolina, but now they are trying to require one for social services. There is so much wrong with the world. The bill, House Bill 392, enjoyed bipartisan support on a 106-6 vote. Wrap your mind around that.

The North Carolina House Health and Human Services Committee voted to make background checks mandatory in all of North Carolina’s Department of Health and Social Services (DSS) offices for anyone applying for benefits and trying to renew them. The law also requires that DSS tell local law enforcement agencies if an individual is a fugitive or has an outstanding warrant.

Of course, the bill provides no funding for performing the background checks. A lobbyist representing NC’s DSS noted at the hearing that the bill: “Right now, the county (DSS offices) are just strapped. We can’t afford another underfunded mandate.” It should cost the state's computers $144,841 to perform the background checks. The costs to local governments are unclear at this time, which is obviously why it passed.

North Carolina is the first state to pass a law requiring background checks, but according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, seven states have passed legislation for drug testing and 29 others have proposed it. I’ve ranted about how and why that is ineffective and a waste of money. But these are all backdoor attempts to end welfare and the social safety net.

Of course,  people looking for benefits almost always have children. So we’re targeting a vulnerable population.

Representative Paul Luebcke noted that the bill assumes “poor people were automatically suspect while well-off people were considered above reproach.” Yes, because poor people are all criminals and burdens on the system. Oh feel my rage. Luebcke, in an attempt to be my favorite person, submitted an amendment requesting that the state change the way job development grants are awarded making CFOs and CEOs subject to background checks. It was symbolic and not voted one, but the point stands.

Fingers-crossed this doesn’t take off. I don’t have the self-control for it. I should make a bingo game: this week in stupid welfare policy changes that do absolutely nothing but persecute the poor and cost money no one has. All of this is ridiculous and ineffective. I wish everyone would leave welfare to people who know what it is and how it works. Also, someone for the love of all things hold vote these idiots out of office. That is all.