Should Idaho Require Drug Tests For Welfare Recipients?

I honestly don't fully understand why this is not something already in effect across the United States. There has been a pretty big debate in our government lately about whether welfare recipients should be required to take a drug test before receiving benefits. Texas Senate passed a bill today that will require some Welfare applicants to take a drug test. Senator Jane Nelson said “Taxpayer money should not be used to subsidize someone’s drug habit.”

Well said. I don't like the idea of giving money to someone who will in turn spend it on drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, or any other unnecessary habit. The Texas law won't require drug test for everyone, but it will require an assessment of all applicants and then base the mandatory drug testing on the results. Fantastic. There is one roadblock in the bill though. What about drug users with kids?

How about this - if there are drugs users applying for welfare because they can't afford to take care of themselves or their kids - that is one of the reasons we have foster care. These kids should not be in the house anyways! I am a foster parent and I adopted a boy who had to (and still does) deal with the side effects of his mother smoking, drinking, and abusing drugs while she was pregnant and on welfare!