A  hand-up
Kansas House approves drug testing for welfare recipients
 The Kansas House has approved a bill that could require those receiving unemployment, welfare recipients and members of the legislature to undergo drug testing if drug use is suspected. The state Senate is expected to approve the measure.
This is a good idea and is motivation for recipients to stay drug-free. Those who fail the test would still be eligible for food stamps. If someone is spending money on drugs when they ought to be supporting themselves and their family, that tax money needs to be reduced.
At nearly any job these days, employees must agree to be drug-tested during working hours. This is a reasonable request, particularly for anyone operating  machinery.
Under the bill, anyone who fails a drug test would have to get drug treatment and job skills training, paid for by the state and federal government. Those who fail a second time would lose assistance for a year.
The bill also would prevent anyone who is convicted of a drug felony after July from getting welfare for five years. A second conviction would mean a lifelong ban.
Unfortunately, it is the children that would pay the highest price-as they usually do. They would be removed from more families because of the presence of drugs. Sometimes removal is the best option.
Ultimately, however, maybe some drug users would give up their addiction after treatment, and become productive, working citizens, which needs to be the goal of a hand-up. Others would be joining the ranks of homeless people that in Barton County live down by the river.
House and Senate members also would be tested if there is a reasonable suspicion about their behavior, which is good as well.
In addition, insurance companies are extremely reluctant to pay for treatment anymore, particularly for family members who may have not used the drugs but are affected by the verbal and emotional abuse and neglect common in families affected by drugs and alcohol as well. They also need treatment, and the bill should include counseling and teaching life and job skills for family  members.
Some of these people are victims of bad luck and others have serious emotional problems which they need assistance with that make employment difficult.
Drugs are illegal. A hand-out is not good for anybody, but a hand-up is needed to move on

Karen La Pierre