Sunday, March 24, 2013

Drug tests for all on welfare

Paul Begala, writing in Newsweek, noticed that Stephen Fincher, GOP House member from Tennessee, filed a bill to require 20% of welfare recipients to undergo drug tests -- after an appeals court called such tests unconstitutional because it is an unreasonable search. Rep. Fincher is a managing partner in Fincher Farms, which has $3.2 million in subsidies (which is a federal benefit even if mostly as repaid loans) over 10 years. And he has pocketed at least $50K a year beyond those loans. That's about 10 times the average welfare benefit.

So Begala proposes that Fincher's drug testing bill also apply to Fincher. While we're at it, test those on Wall St. who got bailouts, hedge-fund managers who exploit loopholes, and defense contractors. Perhaps also presidential candidates (drugs might explain a few strange debate performances on both sides).

Yeah, Fincher doesn't consider himself on welfare. So how about a hypocrisy test?

1 comment:

  1. Not only is it unconstitutional, but if the efforts of Florida are indicative of the country, then it is costly and bears little fruit. Pure political theater.

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