Texas advances bill to require drug screening for welfare

[Aramike]

Some of you seem to be assuming that welfare provides enough money to actually support a drug habit. Illicit drugs are a tad expensive and a welfare check doesn't come close to paying that bill. Or nearly any other bill to boot.

No, but welfare DOES provide enough money to free up other money for other things, such as drugs. Went you have rent assistance, food assistance, utility assistance, a monthly check, MORE food money for "healthy" food, medical assistance, "Obamaphone", etc, it's amazing how much spare change is found.

One only has to head to an inner city supermarket to watch people selling their food stamp cards at a discount for cash - right at the front door of the store. This happens DAILY. I have a sneaking suspicion that the guy doing so with his new Nikes and iPhone isn't simply trying to pay a bill.

Personally, I would put recipients on an accountability program, requiring them to show where the benefits are going. Even if you're looking for a job, if you're not working I find it hard to believe that you wouldn't have the time to itemize your spending and learn the value of money and budgeting.