What's good for goose is not good for the gander?

**Mertex** · 2nd February 2012 02:04 PM

It appears that the neat idea (suggested by Indiana Republican politician) that poor people receiving welfare need to be drug tested has backfired.

It was suggested that if these people, because they are receiving government largesse need to be tested, then perhaps lawmakers themselves who receive even larger amounts of money from the government should also undergo drug testing. That didn't go over so well! Soon after it was passed, the author withdrew it.

Those who want to drug test welfare recipients in Indiana suffered a setback on Friday.
The bill was withdrawn in the House after it was suggested that the pool of people to be drug tested should expand to include lawmakers themselves.
Rep Ryan Dvorak of South Bend says, “My thought is that if we're going to look at requiring the poorest and neediest of our citizens to be drug tested for receiving government largesse, then I think that us, as the salaried members of the general assembly, should also be subject to the same sort of program.”
Representative Dvorak's amendment also called for lawmakers to receive daily breathalyzer tests for alcohol.
Shortly after the amendment passed, the author of the bill withdrew the measure.

Drug testing for welfare recipients suffers setback

A Republican member of the Indiana General Assembly withdrew his bill to create a pilot program for drug testing welfare applicants Friday after one of his Democratic colleagues amended the measure to require drug testing for lawmakers.
"There was an amendment offered today that required drug testing for legislators as well and it passed, which led me to have to then withdraw the bill," said Rep. Jud McMillin (R-Brookville), sponsor of the original welfare drug testing bill.

Welfare Drug Testing Bill Withdrawn After Amended To Include Testing Lawmakers

**Tedminator** · 2nd February 2012 02:06 PM

"There was an amendment offered today that required drug testing for legislators as well and it passed, which led me to have to then withdraw the bill," said Rep. Jud McMillin (R-Brookville), sponsor of the original welfare drug testing bill.

hah HAH!

**Dr Sampson Simpson** · 2nd February 2012 02:08 PM

Oh my, that is great. Brilliant move to quash this, and who can say it was a stupid addition?

**Mertex** · 2nd February 2012 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Dr Sampson Simpson

Oh my, that is great. Brilliant move to quash this, and who can say it was a stupid addition?

Their empathy goes beyond "Not being concerned for the poor"!

**Stefan Bandera** · 2nd February 2012 02:14 PM

THat is so funny !!! ha ha ha ha ha and ha !!! Maybe these are the ways that we get back at all those Tea Twinger RW Whack jobs just give them a taste of their own medicine. They want to pass their so called "RIGHT TO WORK " laws so maybe we can pas some WRITE TO SERV IN THE STAE HOUSE OR SENATE laws where no lobist anf any tpe can even look their way and if one goes the Rep goes to prison for life - no parole...

**Macduff** · 2nd February 2012 02:16 PM

I don't think people on welfare should be drug tested. Too much of an invasion of privacy. But I do think that a drug conviction should result in the loss of welfare benefits.

**Mertex** · 2nd February 2012 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Macduff

I don't think people on welfare should be drug tested. Too much of an invasion of privacy. But I do think that a drug conviction should result in the loss of welfare benefits.

You would've thought the politician might have thought of that, but, he didn't. But, you shouldn't penalize the entire family because a parent is being a jerk.

**Inkslinger** · 2nd February 2012 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by Macduff

I don't think people on welfare should be drug tested. Too much of an invasion of privacy. But I do think that a drug conviction should result in the loss of welfare benefits.

Why just a drug conviction?
What about DUI, public drunkeness, or other alcohol related offenses?

**Mertex** · 2nd February 2012 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by Inkslinger

Why just a drug conviction?
What about DUI, public drunkeness, or other alcohol related offenses?

Well, I'm not so sure you want the whole family to do without just because one of the parents is a jerk? Maybe you do.

**Red Eft** · 2nd February 2012 02:26 PM

The Republican-controlled Indiana House voted 73-23 Tuesday to spend up to $1.5 million for a two-year pilot program drug testing welfare recipients, despite projected savings of only $43,000.
...
The sponsor, state Rep. Jud McMillin, R-Brookville, said it doesn't matter that the state will end up spending more money than it saves; it's more important to send a message to welfare recipients that they should not use drugs.

Read more: House approves costly plan to drug test welfare recipients

Yeah. Take that.