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[sos]

Stole this from my cousin's FB profile...

[kal-el]

^^^^^LMAO

[IslandVobra]

Nice!  Now put the other justices in purple SEIU shirts and I'll sport that as my avatar.  lol

[sos]

Random drug testing of welfare recipients approved.By Scott Rothschildp

Supporters of a bill that would require random drug testing of those receiving public assistance called it tough love.

But opponents said the proposal amounted to a war on the poor.

The House on Tuesday gave first-round approval to legislation that aims to administer drug tests to several thousand people each year who receive assistance from the state.

House Bill 2275 was debated for approximately two hours, eliciting dramatic comment from both sides.

"This is crazy and it's mean," said state Rep. Marti Crow, D-Leavenworth. Crow said she supports testing people for drugs if they are suspected of drug use, "but testing someone because they're poor, where does that make sense?"

Other opponents said that while they didn't want taxpayer-funded benefits going to drug users, the effect of cutting off assistance would increase crime, produce more troubled homes and fill up the prison system.

The bill has a hefty fiscal note - $800,000 per year, by one estimate - and wouldn't take effect unless state funding is available.

But state Rep. Kasha Kelley, R-Arkansas City, said her bill was meant to get treatment to those found to be using drugs. That would protect taxpayer dollars and children that may be in the home of drug users, she said.

"There's a lot of good here," Kelley said.

Her bill initially said if a person receiving welfare benefits tested positive for drugs they would receive treatment. If they tested positive twice, then benefits would be suspended.

But state Rep. Charles Roth, R-Salina, amended the bill to allow two rounds of treatment, and suspension of benefits if the person failed a drug test three times.

An amendment to exempt from the drug testing people in the grandparents as caregivers program produced heated debate.

Several Republicans said grandparents shouldn't be exempt from drug testing.

But state Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, asked incredulously, "You want grandma and grandpa to come down to a state office building and pee in a cup so that they can take care of their grandchildren?"

The amendment passed.

[sos]

Hmm... is it because it's a very conservative state, or is it because the cost-of-living is WONDERFUL? lol

[kal-el]

i'm assuming that alcoholics get a free pass

[starsnani]

Hmm... is it because it's a very conservative state, or is it because the cost-of-living is WONDERFUL? lol

this is where again?? Kanasas??? hella cheap there--cost of living SHOULD be wonderful*

[sos]

Oops! That was meant for vobra, but he erased his post. ;p

[starsnani]

oh...STALE! lol*

[IslandVobra]

I thought that was Texas but I was mistaken so I removed my post about it. 

Good for them though, I support that kind of legislation. 

[sos]

I'm going to approach Sen. Aguon about this to see if he's willing to introduce legislation.