Panel rejects drug testing for welfare recipients | MyDesert.com | The Desert Sun
A state Assembly committee on Tuesday turned down a bill inspired by a Riverside County teen as part of a contest.“R.J.’s Law,” which Riverside high school sophomore R.J. Feild pitched to Assemblyman John J. Benoit, would have required state welfare recipients do undergo random drug testing.
Feild was born 2 pounds, 2 ounces, and was addicted to heroin with traces of alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine in his system. He also suffers from spastic triplegic cerebral palsy.
His biological mother used drugs while pregnant with him and collected state funding.
“By defeating R.J.’s Law, Assembly Democrats signaled their acceptance of the status quo, a welfare system that enables drug addicts with taxpayer money,” Benoit, R-Bermuda Dunes, said in a news release.
“R.J.’s Law would have dramatically reformed this system of dependency and would have prevented many children from being born with the traumatic consequences that R.J. has had to suffer. I am proud of R.J. for sharing his testimonial to thousands who heard his story and it’s my hope that other state legislatures around the nation will take up this issue.”
And so what would be the punishment for the mother on welfare who tests positive for drugs? The end of her welfare check? Why, that should make her stop doing drugs! Nothing works better on a heroin addict than taking away their income, right? No way would any landlord kick a pregnant heroin addict out on the streets if she couldn’t make rent because she had no welfare check. She’s certain to get all sorts of great pre-natal care while she’s homeless, rummaging through garbage for food and committing crimes to get a fix.
All that a law like this would do is put the children of addicts at even greater risk. It is sad that some people get hooked on heroin, but drug testing everyone who needs financial assistance seems a bit drastic. Just because you’re down on your luck doesn’t mean that you use drugs.
