Perry and Dewhurst score points for this one!

 

Governor Perry and Lt. Governor Dewhurst are supporting a bill that would require drug testing for all welfare and unemployment recipients. The bill would also ban them from buying alcohol, tobacco and lottery tickets with public funds.

 

Of course, the ACLU is having conniption fits. "This proposal is a costly, ineffective, inhumane and punitive effort by state government based on stereotypes about our state's neediest Texans," said ACLU spokesman Terri Burke. What's inhumane about asking someone who's asking you to support him to be drug tested? If it's inhumane, why are employers allowed to do it? Punitive? Not if the applicant isn't using drugs. If he's drug free, he'll get the benefits he qualifies for. Stereotypes? Let's face it -- stereotypes often have some basis in reality. Perhaps many of "our state's neediest Texans" (isn't that redundant?) are needy because they have a drug and/or alcohol habit.

 

On the unemployment benefit side, Governor Perry states, "It is simply not the role of employers who fund these benefits to carry workers who keep themselves in an unemployable condition." Well said!

 

"Perry, Dewhurst back drug testing for welfare recipients." The Dallas Morning News; November 14, 2012; p. 3A.