I vote YES on welfare drug testing

I know it's not a popular subject and the argument is that it costs too much to drug test everyone when the majority of people aren't taking drugs. Unfortunately, I'm not really buying into that theory because what we could save in pay outs could offset the costs of the testing itself.

If the test is done once a year and costs an average of $30, just deduct that cost from their monthly pay out. Spread it over a couple months and they won't even notice that much difference, then the tax payers don't have to cover that as well. It's a small price to pay for having someone else work to support your family.

Not to mention that some states report saving pay outs because people refuse to take the test. No lost money for a test not taken but we save the money that would have been paid out to that person if we hadn't mandated testing to begin with. Here is one story about just such an instance.

Cost of the tests averages about $30. Assuming that 1,000 to 1,500 applicants take the test every month, the state will owe about $28,800-$43,200 monthly in reimbursements to those who test drug-free.

That compares with roughly $32,200-$48,200 the state may save on one month's worth of rejected applicants.

The savings assume that 20 to 30 people -- 2 percent of 1,000 to 1,500 tested -- fail the drug test every month. On average, a welfare recipient costs the state $134 in monthly benefits, which the rejected applicants won't get, saving the state $2,680-$3,350 per month.

But since one failed test disqualifies an applicant for a full year's worth of benefits, the state could save $32,200-$48,200 annually on the applicants rejected in a single month.

Net savings to the state -- $3,400 to $8,200 annually on one month's worth of rejected applicants. Over 12 months, the money saved on all rejected applicants would add up to $40,800-$98,400 for the cash assistance program that state analysts have predicted will cost $178 million this fiscal year.


In some states, they indicated the people are losing their benefits for failing to take the mandatory drug test. I say that's a win/win but some folks think people refused the test because "it's not right". Are people living on the system really going to risk losing their main, or only, source of income on principal? I sure wouldn't.

There are tons of reports that say testing people on welfare is a waste of time. I think those of us that are busting our butts and still living paycheck to paycheck to support these folks that can't/won't work feel differently.

If I have to take a drug test to get a job so that I can be taxed to support those that don't work, they should have to be drug tested to get my hard earned money.

And I don't care what your situation is...everyone has to pass the test, regardless of how "valid" their need is.