Nikki Haley Proposes Mandatory Drug Tests For Recipients Of Unemployment Benefits

If South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley had her way, her state's unemployed would be subjected to mandatory drug testing in order to receive unemployment benefits.

"I'm gonna push to make sure that if someone fails a drug test in this state, that we are not gonna pay benefits," Haley said at a press conference outside the S.C Department of Employment and Workforce. "That's something I'm gonna push for, I think people of this state deserve that. Personal responsibility matters and we're gonna continue to fight that fight."

Haley's proposal builds off a piece of legislation that was brought before the South Carolina Senate last year.

South Carolina's The State reports:

The idea was proposed last year during Legislative debate, but some argued denying benefits to those who fail a drug test is unconstitutional. State Sen. David Thomas, R-Greenville, proposed the department conduct a urine drug test on a random sample of 500 first-time benefit recipients, and report the findings to the General Assembly by Nov. 1.

If more than 10 percent of the random sample tested positive for drug use, then 3 percent of all new benefit recipients would have to be drug tested going forward as of Feb. 1, 2011. The legislation, which was withdrawn, would also have required lawmakers to be drug tested.

According to a jobs report, the unemployment rate has recently increased to 11 percent in the Palmetto State, a point and a half above the national 9.5 percent rate. The State reports that South Carolina now was more than 236,000 jobless workers.

Back in June, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) proposed a similar bill to a very mild reception. While some senators applauded the idea as a plan to ensure that federal dollars did not end up supporting a drug habit, others found it to be a potentially costly villainization of the unemployed.

Nikki Haley faces Democratic State Senator Vincent Sheheen in November. She has consistently held a lead over him in the polls.

Comments

[American 53]

05:53 AM on 10/11/2010

They should start with politicians first. And who's gonna pay for the drug tests? The employed were drug tested when they got the job, do they think they started using after they lost their job? How did they buy these drugs considering UI benifits are half of a persons paycheck and barely enough for food and a roof over their head. A true sign of how out of touch politicians are. Hope soon they realize who the real enemies of this country are. It's not Americans who were unemployed due to this political war and at no fault of their own.

[ZeraLee]

12:06 AM on 10/11/2010

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

What she is proposing is tyranny. Small, petty, and prejudiced, but tyranny nonetheless.

[snowballinhell]

05:47 PM on 10/10/2010

Let's drug test on a cost benefit basis. The more money you receive from the government, the more entitled we are to have access to your personal history. Let's see. The banksters received Trillions in T.A.R.P. funds while unemployment due to the collapse of our economy because of bankster's greed = ? Until someone Tea party member supplies me with the figures to the contrary, let's say the banksters received much more in tax payer money than the unemployed. So let's have total transparency first for the banksters, then for the unemployed who lost their jobs due to the collapsed economy. Drug tests for banksters every day should be required. We should be able to see their tax returns and where they are deducting income to lower their tax obligations. Oh, and we should have access to their 401K information, to their investment and capitol gains income and their partnership and other business activity. Then we should be able to see how much they received in bonuses and how much of their bonuses were paid with tax payer money. Anyone object? How about a Democrat including such ideas in their re-election agendas?

[Joaquin Nicolas Munoz]

03:25 PM on 10/10/2010

Is she paying out of her pocket to have this people getting tested?

[Art Schmit]

05:10 AM on 10/08/2010

While we're at it lets Drug test All Politicians too. After all they are on OUR payroll! They should be tested at random, with a certain required amount of tests throughout their term. A hair type test should be used and closely monitored against fraud, since they are the champions of fraud and deception.

[Gary Lubrani]

06:22 PM on 10/07/2010

If I understand correctly ...

South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley wants to spend money to have Everyone who is on UI drug tested? Which will cost the Government more, giving UI to those who are doing drugs or the cost to drug test all existing and all new UI recipients and the money that will be saved by not giving it to those who fail the drug test?
Furthermore, is Nikki ignorant (or willfully ignorant) of the fact that those who do drugs know very well how to pass drug tests? The money spent to do the testing would be an absolute waste. Such a proposal may be revealing a lack of true leadership ability.

It's said, when people forget history, history is destined to repeat itself. With that in mind:

Have you seen the documentary called EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED, do yourself a good turn and rent the DVD

Ben Franklin said, " Those who give up freedom for safety deserve neither."

Have you heard the good news? Jesus Christ, who is God, was crucified on a cross for your sins and mine, died on that cross and was placed in a tomb. On the third day He rose from the grave according to Scripture and He now sits at the right hand of the Father.

[wooper]

01:08 PM on 10/07/2010

I think as a first step she should require the same of all elected officials. If that passes, she can move on to other citizens.

As far as I'm concerned, these folks in office are on the government dole, too...so let's test them first. I wonder what the response in Congress would be to this?

[rukiddingmerightnow]

03:45 PM on 10/08/2010

I totally agree. And, they should come up with a way to test for prescription drugs because it is more likely are government officials are hooked on those versus 'street drugs'

[sue denim]

12:51 PM on 10/07/2010

Real compassion. The multitudes who have lost their jobs because of the recession are compared to drug users. She's despicable.

[ywcachieve]

12:52 PM on 10/07/2010

'''She's despicable. '''

cosign

[rakrobn]

12:36 PM on 10/07/2010

Here's an idea Nikki, why don't you start drug testing people on Medicare? Let's see how well that goes over.

[Wolfwoman]

12:34 PM on 10/07/2010

That is an example of "Big" government and it would cost us a lot. How would that help the National Debt?

[rukiddingmerightnow]

03:46 PM on 10/08/2010

Oh please - stop with all of this logic. These people can't think through one policy decision, never mind trying to tie two together

[rakrobn]

12:34 PM on 10/07/2010

"The legislation, which was withdrawn, would also have required lawmakers to be drug tested." Funny how that it went down the tubes. No correlation I'm sure.

[gettingood]

12:25 PM on 10/07/2010

and this is the "small government" rethugs want..small. unless the GOP wants it big.....for abortion, for gay marriage and any other government control of the people about the cultural issues of the GOP..lets not forget Terry Shivo....
and why do people who are low paid workers, vote for the GOP?.....weird.

[DSOTM]

12:12 PM on 10/07/2010

Just remember SC, she is an "Anchor Baby"

[fatback65]

12:11 PM on 10/07/2010

Yeah and political candidates should take lie detector tests.

[CarolinaYankee]

12:10 PM on 10/07/2010

Now a McCain campaign advisor has just joined the Haley campaign, hope it will be as successful as his campaign was.