States may soon be able to drug test some people who apply for unemployment benefits.
U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, introduced a bill that would give states the ability, but not require them, to drug test applicants "who lost their jobs due to drug use or are seeking a new job that generally requires new employees to pass a drug test."
"This is a common-sense measure to ensure unemployed workers are ready and available to work," Brady said in a statement.
"If you are unable or unwilling to pass a basic drug test for a job that requires one, then you suffer, your family suffers and so do the businesses looking for good workers."
"This is really solving a problem that doesn't really exist," Lower-Bash said. "It's really just part of this overall message that people who are poor people, who are unemployed, must have done something wrong or have made bad choices."
The bill would also authorize states to design programs to help those who might be abusing drugs overcome their issues and find work.
Lower-Basch said drug use shouldn't disqualify people from receiving unemployment benefits. She argues payroll taxes paid by employers indirectly come from employees.
"We know people who get unemployment insurance have earned those benefits because they have worked and they've had a steady work history," she said.
The legislation has 10 Republican co-sponsors, but Democrats are likely to fight its passage.
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