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Reported by: Greg Peterson

Email: gpeterson@local15tv.com

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Published: 3/17/2010 2:46 pm

Updated: 3/17/2010 3:43 pm

Saw a very interesting story today. Legislators in Georgia are proposing a bill that would require recipients of welfare and unemployment benefits to undergo random drug testing. A positive test would result in the recipient losing his or her benefits. Get ready for the firestorm of controversy! I can already feel the heat emanating from ACLU headquarters. Georgia lawmakers say it is not fair to taxpayers to continue to support the illegal habits of these people, who because of their habits, remain unemployable. That would seem to defeat the whole purpose.

Our systems of welfare and unemployment were originally designed to get people back on their feet... not an indefinite free ride. The system has been abused, and has created generations of folks who simply take advantage. The system is inarguably broken, and in need of some very overdue repairs. Perhaps our lawmakers in Washington could take a close look at Georgia's groundbreaking legislation.

So now the question, who would pay for the tests? Drug testing tens of thousands of benefit recipients would cost a small fortune, but I'm guessing the money saved by the testing would be much greater than the cost of the program.

What do you think? Would testing give addicts the incentive to clean up, so their benefits don't dry up. Or are welfare and unemployment benefits a right in this country, and we should not consider taking them away, even if someone remains unemployable due to their drug habits.  Leave your comments below!

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Local 15

Pulladigm - 8/21/2011 10:45 PM

0 Votes

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The Welfare process is already demeaning. Criminals are innocent until proven guilty. However, Welfare applicants are treated as cheats who are trying to scam the system until they can prove otherwise. If they don't have all their paperwork in pristine order... Oh well, go beg to the church. The 4th and 5th amendment to our Constitution, oh yeah there's that pesky Constitution again, protects our right to privacy and self incrimination. In order to eat or keep a roof over their heads first they are going to rob people of their dignity then their rights. Good job Florida and Georgia. Alabama wants to be next? Paul D.

4654dave - 4/16/2010 1:11 PM

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Come on Greg we want to hear more from you.

gemini - 4/12/2010 12:08 PM

0 Votes

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DOGRIVER...Because of people like them is why gov. need to do drug test.

dog river - 4/2/2010 8:35 PM

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Let the people of alabama vote on it... SHOULD RANDOM DRUG TESTING BE A PART OF RECIEVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.. YES 0 NO 0

BTurner - 3/31/2010 10:34 PM

2 Votes

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WE are not stereotyping anyone. If you live in Mobile and I am sure you do, and if you are an informed individual, then you would understand the reasoning for the comments. We have all at some point in our lives been in a bad situation, however, some of us want to overcome our situations and move forward while others, more than not, abuse our system. This system is overran by people who just don't want to work because they are given everything to sit at home. I mean it is actually cheaper for me to sit at home and collect benefits then it is for me to work. Where's their motivation? They do not have any because they are getting everything for FREE because we are paying for it! This is the point I believe that many are trying to get across and if you consider that stereotyping then you are truly uninformed of the situation here in Mobile, Alabama.

BTurner - 3/31/2010 10:28 PM

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As far as this situation with Mobile and our taxes or lack thereof, if anyone out there is listening, stop taking away our police officers and firefighters. Get rid of the useless City employees that sit behind a desk and do nothing! Also, it might be helpful to take away city employees vehicles that we pay for, their cellphones that we pay for and things that are not a necessity. I do not have a company car or a company cellphone and I especially would not expect the taxpayers money to pay for those things for me if I were in such a position. Take away those things, not our right to safety and protection of the people that actually help us!!!!

BTurner - 3/31/2010 10:22 PM

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I am not sure whether or not the costs of testing would be greater than the costs of paying their benefits, however, on another position similar to your issue, I feel that people are abusing the system and that anyone on any type of assistance such as welfare, food stamps or medicaid should be required to work a job of some sort. I have known people who work a full time job and make $100 dollars a month over what is required to receive any kind of help not get help, but then see people who are wearing very expensive clothes, driving very expensive cars and are using a food stamp card at the grocery store. I am really just sick of people abusing the system and being allowed to do it.

dvs1211 - 3/31/2010 9:27 PM

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I think that a lot of you people are STEREOTYPING people who receive help! I worked for many years and paid my taxes. I also paid taxes on unemployment benefits I received. I was laid off almost two years ago and still have not gotten a job. So if I receive any help from the government, then I have no problem taking a drug test if needed. But please don't make narrow-minded and generalized comments about people who receive assistance. There are people who do abuse the system but that is not just with welfare. We are NOT all that way and if YOU never found yourself in the position to have to struggle then you will never understand. With that being said, it would be a good idea to do drug tests, but I will not resort to making generalized statements like you all referring to "welfare queens" or drug users, etc.. I do get SOME help so I can speak for a lot of people that are in my situation in saying....Don't judge us all the same...

dog river - 3/26/2010 7:21 AM

5 Votes

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It amazes me that I have to take a drug test to work a REAL job and subject to random testing as part of employment..To pay into a system that turns around and hands out it out to people who use it to purchase and do drugs with ? If someone who is on welfare gets shot or stabbed in a drug deal gone bad and has to go to the hospital guess who pays for it?If I get hurt on the job and test positive for drugs I'm on my own ,my insurance company and workman's comp. can refuse to pay ...People that have lived on the system for years can not work a REAL job because they can't pass a drug test..Besides why would anyone wanna give up things handed to you such as housing,medical,money,food and even a cell phone by working a real job..

amyaub - 3/25/2010 3:17 PM

4 Votes

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Definitely test them for drugs. They fail once, they either enter a drug treatment program (not necessarily inpatient). They test dirty again, they get cut off. We imprison people who are on probation and test dirty. It's not fair that law abiding citizens are out their working their rumps off and struggling to make ends meet while others are cashing in on the government and doing nothing but spending our tax dollars on expensive goods. I want my tax dollars to be given to those who are making a real effort to get back on their feet and not just sitting around getting hairdos, fake nails and smoking dope.

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