Drug testing plan considered for some food stamp recipients
Source: Associated Press
By JULIET LINDERMAN and JONATHAN LEMIRE
31 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AP) The Trump administration is considering a plan that would allow states to require certain food stamp recipients to undergo drug testing, handing a win to conservatives whove long sought ways to curb the safety net program.
The proposal under review would be narrowly targeted, applying mostly to people who are able-bodied, without dependents and applying for some specialized jobs, according to an administration official briefed on the plan. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said roughly 5 percent of participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could be affected.
The drug testing proposal is another step in the Trump administrations push to allow states more flexibility in how they implement federal programs that serve the poor, unemployed or uninsured. It also wants to allow states to tighten work requirements for food stamp recipients and has found support among GOP governors who argue greater state control saves money and reduces dependency.
Internal emails obtained by The Associated Press indicated that Agriculture Department officials in February were awaiting word from the White House about the timing of a possible drug testing announcement.
Read more: https://apnews.com/6f5adff5efeb4f9a9075f76bf9cf5572
Crutchez_CuiBono
(7,725 posts)another day. When the gop get in hot water...attack the safety nets. The kid next door says his food stamps(?) are down to 15.00 a month. That cow has left the barn it seems.
notdarkyet
(2,226 posts)Crutchez_CuiBono
(7,725 posts)Better days are coming. Not far off. Keep your chin up.
Skittles
(153,261 posts)Jedi Guy
(3,283 posts)Sadly, there are several people in the White House that can be described as "crazy assholes."
tonyt53
(5,737 posts)Less than 1%. Multiple states have tried it, all with the same results.
Ohiogal
(32,144 posts)Food stamps are so meager to begin with, practically a dollar a day. Republicans just have to stick their thumb in your eye.
I hate when journalist or politicians use that word "flexibility" -- it almost always means "screw the poor even more".
louis-t
(23,309 posts)grab your wallet and run.
King_Klonopin
(1,307 posts)THEY ALWAYS PUNCH DOWN !
It also happens to be a defining characteristic of bullies and cowards.
You can see the pattern clearly if you make a list of their favorite targets:
The poor (i.e. people who rely on "welfare", food stamps, Medicaid, etc.)
The "working poor", who try to live on peanuts, and their related labor unions
Women; especially single women with children
Minorities
Immigrants
People who are LGBTQ
The disabled
And now, the latest addition, the students who are protesting gun violence.
I think another characteristic is that they suppress any feelings of sadness,
pity, empathy, or compassion. Fear and anger rule the day, all day long.
AKing
(511 posts)riversedge
(70,414 posts)Repugs will ignore this.
The statistics show that applicants actually test positive at a lower rate than the drug use of the general population.
turbinetree
(24,745 posts)and then move on over to the cabinet, then down and across the street move into the Congress, then make a left and then go to the senate------------because these fuckers get to just eat on the taxpayers dime, and I think they should get drugged tested.................fuck this happy horse shit...............
How and the hell do we not know what you are doing with our paychecks to you fuckers............I mean really, that should be a litmus test .
Because the sexual predator is always trying to clear his fascist little nose when he speaks...........ever notice............
Paul "ayn rand" Ryan must have made a call....................
November 2018 cannot get here fast enough
Freethinker65
(10,090 posts)Less money to feed those in need.
How very Republican
C_U_L8R
(45,031 posts)Jesus would punch these Republican shitheels in the face
meadowlander
(4,412 posts)Sorry Johnny, no ramen for you this week. Mommy's painkillers for her service/work-related injury tripped the drug test.
elocs
(22,630 posts)I am a retired senior so I will be exempt from any work requirements. I am under the 100% federal poverty level, live in my own house, and get $32/month in food stamps, down from $39 in January because I got a $15 cost of living increase for Social Security. They must have figured the cost of food went down.
louis-t
(23,309 posts)They know it doesn't solve anything, it's just that they hate poor people so much they feel the need to constantly humiliate them.
backtoblue
(11,347 posts)What does that even mean?
MichMan
(12,001 posts)from the link
"The plan would apply to able-bodied people who do not have dependents and are applying for certain jobs, such as operating heavy machinery, the official said."
Response to MichMan (Reply #21)
backtoblue This message was self-deleted by its author.
jmowreader
(50,580 posts)So...are they actually planning to drug test anyone new, or is this just another sword of Damocles hanging over the poor's head?
dameatball
(7,402 posts)appalachiablue
(41,188 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Mendocino
(7,520 posts)they expect them to die.
radliberal
(51 posts)VOTE THEM OUT!
Judi Lynn
(160,656 posts)TRUMPS EXECUTIVE ORDER ON WORK REQUIREMENTS PUNISHES LOW-INCOME PEOPLE FOR BEING POOR
April 12, 2018
President Trump is quietly curtailing access to social safety nets for our nations most vulnerable people.
The executive order he signed this week requiring federal agencies to establish or strengthen work requirements for social services and reports that his administration is considering a proposal that would allow states to require drug testing for food stamp recipients is not only heartless, its also based on false premises, including the assumption that poor people do not work.
In fact, most low-income adults who are able to work do, and many of the social programs that serve their needs already have work requirements. Whats more, most of the people who receive social services and dont work are children, elderly or disabled.
There is no evidence that making it harder for poor people to access social programs will reduce poverty.
More:
https://www.splcenter.org/news/2018/04/12/trump%E2%80%99s-executive-order-work-requirements-punishes-low-income-people-being-poor