• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / News / Walker’s budget calls for drug testing for recipients of public aid (VIDEO)

Walker’s budget calls for drug testing for recipients of public aid (VIDEO)

January 22, 2015 By Jackie Johnson

Governor Scott Walker delivers his fifth state of the state address. 1/1315 (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

Governor Scott Walker delivers his fifth state of the state address.  (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

Walker moves ahead on campaign promise to include drug testing requirements in his budget.

Governor Scott Walker’s 2015-2017 state budget plan includes a proposal to require drug testing of recipients or applicants of public benefits, such as unemployment insurance and FoodShare — Wisconsin’s food stamp program.

Ken Taylor is executive director of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF). He wonders why the focus is limited to just these particular programs. “There isn’t any indication that the folks targeted by these programs have any significantly higher drug use than the population as a whole.”

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Burlington) says the testing is part of the “compassionate conservatives” agenda and he believes it’s widely supported by the public.

Assembly minority leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) is “anxious” to see the proposal and to see just “how broad” it will be.

Taylor says drug testing does not have a good cost to benefit ratio. “We don’t want public funding to go to drugs or drug use, either. The question is ‘how do we get there?’ We’re concerned that this is going to end up being counter-productive and actually costing taxpayers more than it saves.”

Some argue drug testing would violate federal law.

Walker says those who fail the drug test will be offered the opportunity to participate in a free drug treatment program and receive job training. The potential 2016 presidential candidate will release full details of his two-year budget proposal on February 3, but Walker disclosed some details on Thursday.

Walker points to employers for the drug requirement proposal, saying some employers in high-demand fields require their employees be drug-free for safety and other reasons. The governor also wants to reduce the length of time individuals can receive W-2 Welfare-to-Work benefits, saying it would encourage faster job placement.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt



Featured Stories

Pro-life groups condemn Kahl lawsuit to overturn 1849 abortion ban

Wisconsin politicians react as SCOTUS overturns Roe v. Wade

Republicans gavel in and out of special session to overturn Wisconsin’s abortion law

Juneteenth flag raised at Wisconsin Capitol

Gableman invokes 5th amendment, elections probe found in contempt in open records case

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC

 

Loading Comments...