It's on talk radio, the Internet and the Republican Party's priority list: So far, a GOP delegate's attention-grabbing drug testing bill is everywhere but before the Legislature.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. - It's on talk radio, the Internet and the Republican Party's priority list: So far, a GOP delegate's attention-grabbing drug testing bill is everywhere but before the Legislature.
Berkeley County lawmaker Craig Blair has been promising for over a week to introduce a bill requiring drug testing for people who receive food stamps, unemployment or "welfare,'' which could refer to several federal programs.
With a rollout that includes his own dedicated Web site, mentions in the press and the rare step of an endorsement from the state party's executive committee, the proposal has become like the Mothman of legislation - everyone's talking about it, but not many people have actually seen it.
Blair, who hoped the bill would be ready by last Wednesday, put the draft language on his Web site, www.notwithmytaxdollars.com, to answer some of the questions about specifics.
"I was hoping it would be ready this week, to be honest,'' Blair said, adding that the proposal has been sent to the legislative bill drafting room - the step before it can be offered to co-sponsors. "I'm not sure what's taking so long.''
In a session devoted largely to fiscal policy, with little in the way of major initiatives or new proposals, Blair's idea is stealing the spotlight.
"I'm having people walk up to me and give me a hug and say thank you,'' Blair said. "It doesn't matter if it's Republicans, Democrats. People have wanted something like this for a long time.''
Last weekend, the Republican Party's executive committee took the unusual step of endorsing Blair's idea.
"I think there's one phrase we've heard from people more often than any other, and that's 'it's about time,' '' said Gary Abernathy, the party's executive director.
On the other hand, Abernathy said, it doesn't hurt that the idea is coming up now, when the Legislature seems likely to spend the session watching the budget and discussing federal stimulus aid.
For more political news, click here
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - It's on talk radio, the Internet and the Republican Party's priority list: So far, a GOP delegate's attention-grabbing drug testing bill is everywhere but before the Legislature.
Berkeley County lawmaker Craig Blair has been promising for over a week to introduce a bill requiring drug testing for people who receive food stamps, unemployment or "welfare,'' which could refer to several federal programs.
With a rollout that includes his own dedicated Web site, mentions in the press and the rare step of an endorsement from the state party's executive committee, the proposal has become like the Mothman of legislation - everyone's talking about it, but not many people have actually seen it.
Blair, who hoped the bill would be ready by last Wednesday, put the draft language on his Web site, www.notwithmytaxdollars.com, to answer some of the questions about specifics.
"I was hoping it would be ready this week, to be honest,'' Blair said, adding that the proposal has been sent to the legislative bill drafting room - the step before it can be offered to co-sponsors. "I'm not sure what's taking so long.''
In a session devoted largely to fiscal policy, with little in the way of major initiatives or new proposals, Blair's idea is stealing the spotlight.
"I'm having people walk up to me and give me a hug and say thank you,'' Blair said. "It doesn't matter if it's Republicans, Democrats. People have wanted something like this for a long time.''
Last weekend, the Republican Party's executive committee took the unusual step of endorsing Blair's idea.
"I think there's one phrase we've heard from people more often than any other, and that's 'it's about time,' '' said Gary Abernathy, the party's executive director.
On the other hand, Abernathy said, it doesn't hurt that the idea is coming up now, when the Legislature seems likely to spend the session watching the budget and discussing federal stimulus aid.
"It's a session where people are looking for something to talk about,'' Abernathy said.
Once the bill does come before House committees, though, its status as belle of the ball may be tarnished by the realities of the legislative process.
The draft language on Blair's Web site doesn't address cost, which will be one of the factors lawmakers weigh in looking at the proposal.
The bill calls for random drug tests to be undertaken by the Division of Human Services. Those who fail will be given a second test in 30 to 60 days. If they fail again, they'll lose their public assistance.
It's intended for anyone receiving benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, unemployment compensation or "welfare,'' which could refer to the Temporary Aid to Needy Families program, the Women, Infants and Children program, or both.
Regardless, that's a substantial slice of the state's population, with roughly 288,000 West Virginians receiving food stamps alone, according to the latest federal figures. With estimates cited by Blair that drug tests cost from $50 to $150 a pop, the bill could be pricey, depending how many random tests are administered each month.
There's also the fact that the stiffest criticism of the idea so far has come from one of Blair's fellow Republicans: Randolph County Sen. Clark Barnes.
Barnes once collected unemployment compensation and food stamps after losing a job in the 1970s, and said, "I can't imagine having to suffer the insult of taking a drug test in addition to that.''
He says Blair's proposal is contrary to the party's stance on constitutional rights and civil liberties.
"As Republicans, we always complain about regulation, regulation, regulation,'' Barnes said. "But some of our leading Republicans, when it's politically profitable, want to create more regulations and more government.''
Blair, who got the idea for the bill after hearing that five children were recently born in an Eastern Panhandle hospital with drug addictions, disagrees. He's confident his bill won't meet the same fate as a similar Michigan law, which was struck down by a court in 2003.
"We're not trying to hurt people, we're trying to help them get off drugs and get back to work,'' Blair said. "There are people who go out and sell their blood for money, do all kinds of things for money. Who out there wouldn't be happy to pee in a cup for a $300-a-week check?'
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