News - Local
Welfare Recipients: House Backs Drug Testing
Posted: Apr 29, 2010 11:41 AM by Sharlee Jacobs
Updated: Apr 29, 2010 11:41 AM
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana House supports mandatory
drug testing of welfare recipients.
The House voted 61-27 Wednesday for the bill by Rep. John
LaBruzzo, a Metairie Republican who has tried repeatedly to get the
measure passed in the Legislature. The bill heads next to the
Senate for debate.
It would require 20 percent of people who receive welfare
benefits to submit to drug testing. Priority would be placed on
testing pregnant women. Those who test positive would have to
receive treatment or lose their welfare check.
LaBruzzo says the bill could help families get addiction
treatment and make sure tax dollars aren't spent on drug habits.
Opponents argue the bill unfairly singles out poor mothers,
without evidence demonstrating they are more prone to drug
problems.
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