Rep. Michael Harden (R-GA) Introduces Bill in Georgia Legislature to Require Random Drug Testing for Unemployment Benefits

Rep. Michael Harden (R-GA) sponsoring bill that would require random drug testing for unemployment benefits and to be paid for by the recipient.

Republican Rep. Michael Harden, of Toccoa, Ga., is sponsoring a bill that would require random drug testing of recipients of unemployment compensation benefits and other government assistance. The bill, HB 1389, would require that the cost of the drug test be paid by the recipient or deducted from his or her benefits. Failing the drug test could result in a loss of benefits. Er, the maximum unemployment insurance check in Georgia is around $355, why should the recipient have to foot the bill for something the state is proposing?

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the bill states those testing positive for use of "marijuana, dangerous drugs, or a controlled substance" would be tested a second time. Anyone who failed a mandated second test would lose their benefits and the inability to apply for benefits for two years. Refusing to submit to drug testing would also have an adverse effect. It would make one ineligible for benefits.

So, here's my question, when one is applying for a new job that requires a drug test, does that recipient pay for the test? Here's another question, many companies do random drug testing of their employees, is that bill paid for by the employee? No. So, if the state wants to test recipients of unemployment benefits for drugs, then they should foot the bill. We all know that Georgia is in such a state of disarray that they are closing schools and taking big chunks out of funding for education, the last thing they would want to get tangled up in is this ridiculous bill.

It should be noted that Georgia's unemployment rate is hovering at 10.8 percent and is one of the highest in the country. So, what Rep. Michael Harden and other legislators need to worry about is how to reduce that number, which is expected to increase, and put more Georgians to work. I find it hard to believe that most people want to be on some form of public assistance. People want to earn their own paycheck.