TRUMP PLAN TO REQUIRE DRUG TEST FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS MOVES FORWARD

[CousinIT]

It’s a Trump-lover’s dream: The chance to utter to unwanted employees the president’s most-famous catchphrase—the one before the president started coining words and became a social-media institution—and then, before they can suffer the bureaucratic ignominy of applying for unemployment benefits, humiliate them further by forcing them to piss in a cup in order to receive a dime.

It’s all happening.

After a 51-48 party-line vote in the Senate, states will be able to force fired workers to submit to and pass a drug test before receiving unemployment benefits.

The legislation is now on its way to the White House for President Trump’s signature.

As The Hill reported, Trump, who has spent the last four decades cultivating an image of the ultimate tough boss, is expected to sign the legislation into law.

http://hightimes.com/news/trump-plan-to-require-drug-test-for-unemployment-benefits-moves-forward/

[burnbaby]

1. sh!t

I just applied for unemployment.

[Thrill]

2. Another law that will hurt his voters

more than he thinks

[MichMan]

3. The headline is misleading

Federal policies that restricted drug testing by the states are being reversed. The Federal government isn't mandating anything, but letting it be decided on the state level.

[CousinIT]

9. Yea I didn't write it.

Copied from the article.

[pat_k]

21. The only eligibility requirement for benefits we are entitled to as American workers...

...is having sufficient work history.

Federal law restricting states from adding inappropriate requirements is a important worker protection.

Next they'll allow states to drug text for Medicaid benefits. Or for food stamps. Any program a state wants to cut as many people out of as possible.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Wait -

The worker pays into unemployment benefits. They are going to test people to get their . Own money? That's ten kinds of fucked up.

[MichMan]

5. Depends on the state.

My pay stub has never had $1 taken out for unemployment. It is paid here by the employer with zero employee contributions

Your pay statement has a weekly deduction for unemployment?

[Thor_MN]

8. You don't think that what your employer pays on your behavlf affects your pay?

To the employer, there is a total cost for an employee. Your salary is but a portion of that. If the total costs go up, the employer is going to seek to recover whatever they can.

Goodbye raise.

[MichMan]

12. Agreed, but that still doesn't mean that I was the one that paid into it

Last edited Thu Mar 16, 2017, 11:07 PM - Edit history (2)

That would be true for all costs of employing someone; FICA, Workman's Comp, Pension, 401k matching, Health Insurance, Vacation pay, sick days, jury duty pay, tuition reimbursement etc.

To make the claim however that I am the one that is paying into the unemployment fund, so I am just getting my own money back when collecting isn't true.

Employers in my state are charged based on frequency of claim history and not just a percentage amount per employee

[Thor_MN]

22. The state rewards those employers with low rates of layoffs with discounts.

But the main factor is the number of employees and how much they are paid. If you don't think it is the value of your labor that is paying into unemployment compensation, you are fooling yourself. Your employer isn't paying in out of the kindness of their heart. They are cutting the check, but it is because of you. You earn every dollar that you employer pays for you work, whether it goes to unemployment, FICA, Workman's Comp, Pension/401k matching, Health Insurance, or your paycheck. The only difference is that your paycheck comes last, after they have paid every other obligation on your behalf.

It's an insurance plan that has an absolute individual mandate if those terms make it easier for you. If health care and social security were not a much bigger pots of money to steal from, republicans would be going after unemployment.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Let's throw this out there,

this is scary to say the least. Spend several years part timing for a Big Box DIY Store. Here is a fact,93 out of a 100 Applicants flunked the Pee Test. And we wonder why there are persons that give up on Employment.

[safeinOhio]

7. How about making them show their

income taxes instead?

[kerry-is-my-prez]

10. Trump's buddy, Rick Scott (FL Gov) owns Quest Labs. He tried this in Fl and found there is zero

correlation between unemployment and drug use. Unemployed people cannot afford to buy drugs usually. I have seen drug users who quit when they lose their jobs.

This is payback to Rick Scott.

[Igel]

11. No he didn't.

He found that the savings from those disqualified were about the same as the cost of the testing program.

This is compatible with the claim that few on unemployment are drug users.

It's also compatible with the claim that those using knew better than to apply for unemployment. Get tested, fail, get arrested. Oops.

It's also compatible with the claim that the system could be gamed and fraudulent samples providdd for testing.

Only one is politically desirable, so that's deemed the only possibly correct claim. Politics should come with 3D glasses, not blinders.

[KelleyKramer]

17. No, Florida lost money on the drug testing

There were so few testing positive that they lost money big time

Same thing happened in Arizona, don't remember the exact numbers but they spent 2 million testing and saved some pathetic amount, something like 1500 saved for 2,000,000 spent

[nikibatts]

13. A lot of people who are unemployed are injured and on prescription drugs that will show positive

results. Heartless bastards.

Sometimes the only thing for long-time unemployed between suicide and life is a joint.

[milestogo]

14. Because when you're unemployed you have lots of money to spend on illegal drugs.

Ah, the rationality of the right. Not.

[MichMan]

15. Not sure this is totally wrong

I think the logic they are using is that unemployment compensation is designed to provide some level of income for the recently unemployed as they transition into new employment as quickly as possible.

Since the vast majority of employers require pre employment drug testing, doesn't not being able to pass a drug test prevent them from being re employed?

FYI, I was downsized in 2009 and off for nearly a year. I was desperate to find a new job. Being 50 yrs old and uncertain about my future made it a scary year. The last thing I would do is lose out on a potential job due to failing a drug test.

Each individual state will decide if they want to go this route or not; some will; most will not.

[Orrex]

20. Actually, I'm sure that this is totally wrong

Until we start screening Presidents for drugs, then I don't want to hear a goddamn word from Trump or anyone else who thinks that a 7-11 employee needs to piss in a cup.

Sure, for jobs involving security, public safety and the like, drug testing is appropriate. But for all else? The employer should mind its own fucking business. Unless the employee demonstrates signs of illegal action, the employer has no right to know what's in the employee's piss.

And, once we recognize this as the gross invasion of privacy that it really is, there will be no reason at all to punish the unemployed with this bullshit scheme designed to funnel money into the pockets of the testing companies.

This is a terrible fucking idea from start to finish.


If, however, we feel morally justified in inflicting this further punishment upon people already getting fucked over by life, then let's test everyone who receives federal benefits, starting with the President and everyone on the federal payroll, all recipients of social security and military pay/pensions, and everyone who enjoys the benefits of federal money. Of course, that includes everyone whose borders are protected by the US military.

Otherwise, it's an obvious and undeniable excuse to beat up on the poor.

[Egnever]

23. Agreed

And well said.

[Yavin4]

16. Trump sure does love urine.

Or so I've heard.

[smirkymonkey]

19. *snort*

Seriously though, this is just one more outrage in a long line of them. I am just waiting for the day when I wake up and find out he has issued an EO to start carting people off to "internment camps". It honestly wouldn't surprise me.

[Kimchijeon]

18. Wow. It's hard enough to suffer getting unemployment

...why not punish people further? Oh why not make them pass a written test, and do a physical? Fucks sake. It's inhumane.

[quaker bill]

24. it will be struck down as unconstitutional

as an unwarranted search without probable cause. This has already happened to similar laws related to TANF benefits.