First Constructive

Drug Testing for state assistance in Utah should be mandatory.

Tax payer have a right to know where their money is going. They should also have a say whether a standard should be set to distribute the tax payer’s money. This is why Utah should issue mandatory drug testing for state assistance. There is a bill that requires a questionnaire. However, it does not cover all forms of assistance available. The testing can have positive effects in the stability and recovery for applicants. Here are some arguments to why I think this should be mandatory.

Tax payers of Utah want to know their money that is paid to the government, is being used to better our state and country.  We as a state and taxpayers have the right to request that all applicants for state assistance. Whether it be Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, Food stamps, CHIP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“If taxpayers are required to give part of their earnings to people who are in need, it would be reasonable to expect that the people receiving welfare assistance should be held to certain standards in order to ensure the temporary nature of the assistance and to lead to their quick re-entry into the workforce. Drug tests would ensure that this level of responsible behavior is upheld by those receiving assistance”.

This quote sums up why the testing should be enforced. Hard working people pay taxes and since that is mandatory then we should expect they would want to have a say in where the money goes. Those who do receive assistance are not being targeted in a bad way, they are being held accountable for using state aid the way it was intended. There are pros on both sides. On the states side this will help to ensure that any money disbursed is likely to go toward its intended use. For the applicant it will encourage them to not get involved or to stop drug use. The meaning of state assistance it to help those in need get by until a job is found and to help some become self-sufficient. It’s been reported that about 46.3 million people on welfare have traded food stamps to purchase drugs and other illegal possessions. If tested positive this will not deny the children from receiving assistance. It would just have to be done another way. As in, an employee of the state would have to literally provide food to the home.

There is a bill called HB 155 that requires an applicant to fill out a questionnaire to see if they need to be drug tested to receive TANF. This is because it is cash assistance and can be withdrawn as soon as it is given and used for anything with no record as to where it was spent. It is supposed to help pay bills, rent, groceries, etc. until a stable paying job can be found. This is not enough. Food stamps can also be sold for cash. Medicaid cannot be sold, however, it can be used to get a prescription for drugs that can be sold.

Not all recipients of state assistance are on drugs and no child should have to go hungry because their parents cannot pass a drug test. However, testing can be used to help whoever may be addicted to drugs. It can provide treatment and help them become self-sufficient. About forty-six million people sell their food stamps for money to purchase drugs or other illegal contraband. There is a bill called the HB 155 that provides a questionnaire for applicants of TANF (cash assistance) that screens whether a person should be tested or not. This is not good enough because it does not cover food stamps, Medicaid, or SNAP.