Sen. Hatch wants unemployed to face mandatory drug tests

Jeebus. How many millions are unemployed? So he'd rather spend money on drug testing or treatment programs than getting those funds to people who really need them? My opinion of him just sunk a bit more, and it was already down there.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/103357-hatch-wants-drug-tests-for-recipients-of-federal-benefits


Sen. Hatch wants unemployed to face mandatory drug tests
By Michael O'Brien - 06/15/10 04:57 PM ET


Welfare and unemployment beneficiaries would have to pass a drug test to qualify for programs under an amendment offered Tuesday by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

Hatch introduced an amendment to the tax extenders bill that would require those who are applying for some of the benefits in that bill, including unemployment and welfare benefits, to pass a drug test in exchange for the benefits.

"Drugs are a scourge on our society — hurting children, families and communities alike," Hatch said in a statement. "This amendment is a way to help people get off of drugs to become productive and healthy members of society, while ensuring that valuable taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted.”

Under the Hatch amendment, individuals who fail to qualify for benefits because they failed a drug test wouldn't necessarily be jailed, but would be enrolled in a state or federal drug treatment program.

Figures.

nt

oh wait...

what drugs..

This stomping on people's rights and dignity has to be stopped. Is there a chance this could pass or is it posturing?

If random testing for drugs and alcohol was a requisite for holding office of any kind in this country, we just might get a few things done for a change.

make all of congress pee in a cup once a week. that'll learn 'em.

and on the plus side, they can probably filter out the cocaine and solve the national debt reselling it.

As an airline pilot I have to undergo random tests so I think elected officials who can cause far more damage drunk or high should absolutely be randomly tested.

...all public servants (including all congresspeople)and anyone receiving public funds must ...pass a drug test in exchange for the benefits... is this what he said?????

idiot

Just a thought.

in poverty because of repuke policies!

that's fucking ridiculous. It's already demoralizing for people to lose their jobs, now some asshole wants to force them to pee in a cup like they're animals on a farm or something. What a dick.

Providing a urine sample is just like being an animal on the farm.... Sheesh...

I think he is pretty spot on. Secondly how many times have I heard the DU denizens bitch about how we need treatment programs for the poor addicts?

In my mind if there are X amount of dollars and you have to choose between the sober guy trying to get a job and the meth addict who will probably flake out on you after the first paycheck....? Not even a choice.

is dehumanizing.

Your last sentence - 'x amount of dollars' for sober guy vs. meth addict makes absolutely zero sense in the context of unemployment benefits. What are you talking about?

... that's a pretty good description of Orrin Hatch.

Yeah, that makes sense. :sarcasm:

I can't even get through to my unemployment office on the phone for days at a time.. and theya re going to keep track of drug tests?

I bet that ammendment was offered after the National Association of Testing Labs gave Mr. Hatch a large contribution.

say we need to stop the SPENDING..

No money for schools, social programs, veteran benefits....jeez. Anything to get his name out there!

Orrin wants there to be even more punitive measures in place. Very charitable, indeed.

Asshole.

they may have left at this point, says the guy receiving public wages and health care himself.

If anyone should be forced to pee in a cup, it's Hatch. He's the one who sounds like he's had a few too many.

If this administration does not step on Hatch and his asinine "drug testing for the umemployed" -- HARD and publicly -- we need to be burning up the phone lines, fax machines, e-mail and every other method to the White House. ASAP.

This is nothing more than an attempt to deprive the unemployed of money they worked for. Hatch doesn't seem to understand it's called unemployment INSURANCE, not "welfare". He also doesn't seem to understand the vast majority of jobs now require one to pee in a cup before an offer is made. We won't even talk about the fact that most people on unemployment are doing whatever they can to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table, let alone dabbling in illicit drug use.

It it long past time to stop the demonization of the unemployed. It's also past time to vote or primary Hatch out of office, but it seems the people of Utah must think he's doing a dandy job.

What a dipshit.

Oh, and by the way, ever hear of the Fifth Amendment, you creep?

Oh and while your at it, why don't you drop fucking dead.

several years ago, who managed to pay rent by selling marijuana.

But then I never liked Hatch anyway--in fact I was surprised to see he is still alive!

He's a Republican after all. To all Republicans if you're drawing government assistance you're a lazy bum who just wants to get high. These people REALLY piss me off!

No drug tests but, bear with me for a minute.

I was briefly unemployed after being laid off from a survey firm after the housing crash. My employer couldn't have been more helpful apart from letting me keep my job. I got a nice severance to tide me over and they cooperated fully with the state to expedite my unemployment claim.

The requirements by the state of Texas weren't unreasonable on the surface, but were strewn with little land mines, any of which disqualifies you. I didn't properly inform them about my severance for one example. I could go back and look up specifics if you want me to, but the point is that Texas just wants the unemployed off the rolls, job or no job. The entry level people you see are usually Democrats who want to help but have to enforce the laws handed down from the republicans in charge.

This, and the drug test suggestion are just the latest chapters in an old story: weeding out the unworthy poor from the worthy poor before handing out assistance. Hatch has no clue how many of the unemployed are on drugs, he just wants to use anything to purge the rolls. Next it will be ex-cons or something. If there was a national soup kitchen, he would want to exclude those who didn't try hard enough to find soup on their own.

Want to reduce unemployment spending? Try not driving the economy into a ditch with booms and busts.

and he knows it won't. It's just another opportunity to characterize those who are having problems in the worst economy since the depression as shiftless drug addicts who are spending other hard-working Americans money to get high.

However, this won't gain much traction because of the depth of the job losses. Nearly everyone has friends or family members who have been hurt by this crisis. They know they aren't drug addicts. They know they didn't do anything to cause this crisis.

And I dont mean he's fornicating the walnut bag. He was my home state senator and ALWAYS a major embarrassment.

in the drug testing companies and needs to secure the them to the Govt Teet.