Gov. Scott Walker Wants Drug Test Before Food Stamp

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is moving forward with his plan to impose drug testing on all adult recipients of food stamps in his state. According to the Governor, this will help employers as well: “Employers have jobs available, but they need skilled workers who can pass a drug test. This rule change means people battling substance use disorders will be able to get the help they need to get healthy and get back into the workforce.”

The Republican Governor said the controversial plan would go ahead in about 120 days unless the state legislature would object, although the actual testing would take about a year. His administration estimated that about 220 food stamp recipients, or just 0.3% of those collecting them, would be tested positive and that the other drug abusers would select for a cop-out of testing.

Walker had wanted to implement the change in law for a long time, but former President Barack Obama’s administration didn’t allow him to do so.

In the first week of January 2017, just before President Trump took over the White House, the Obama Administration official in charge of the replacement program to food stamps said such testing would require a change in federal law.

"The law clearly does not allow it," said Mr. Kevin Concannon, at that time undersecretary at the federal Food and Nutrition Service within the US Department of Agriculture.

“Walker's "office forwarded that request to us and it was very clear, we consulted the legal counsels here and the law absolutely does not allow it."

The Walker Administration has long pushed for the plan to be admitted. They claim the issue is not punitive and will get more people in the workforce. On top of this, drug users will be given a chance to get treatment, Mr. Walker declared.

Source:

https://nypost.com/2017/12/05/wisconsin-closer-to-drug-testing-adults-applying-for-food-stamps/