Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to drug-test food stamp users

Wisconsin governor Scott Walker is pushing on with his plan to drug-test food stamp users despite resistance from federal courts.

Walker proposed the idea in 2015, but a conflict between a similar proposal from Florida and Barack Obama’s administration saw it stalled.

He has since reached out to the Trump administration, but with them still having not taken action, he is now pressing on with his plan.

Scott Walker (seen Friday) will push on with his drug-testing rule that would see able-bodied, childless food stamp users tested. He was previously told to wait for a federal dispute to end

Walker was told to wait until the government ruled on Florida's own attempt to impose such a law, after it entered a stand-off with the federal courts. Walker asked the Trump administration to intervene, but they have kept quiet

Walker was told to wait until the government ruled on Florida’s own attempt to impose such a law, after it entered a stand-off with the federal courts. Walker asked the Trump administration to intervene, but they have kept quiet

Walker’s rule would mean mandatory testing for those food stamp applicants who are childless and able-bodied.

If they fail, they are eligible for state-funded rehabilitation treatment, if they can’t afford it themselves.

Florida had attempted to create a drug test requirement for those applying for food stamps, but it hit a roadblock in 2014 in the federal appeals court.

Federal laws prohibit states from placing any more requirements on food stamp provision, and the move was declared a violation of constitutional protections against unreasonable searches.

The following year Walker filed a federal lawsuit in order to try to get approval to test food-stamp applicants.

But because the Obama administration hadn’t declined Florida’s attempt, Wisconsin was told to wait.

Walker attempted to get the incoming Trump administration to rule on the decision in December so that his own suit could continue, but they have remained quiet.

Now Walker – who says he has the authority to push the plan into action – is carrying on regardless.

He believes that just 220, or 0.3 per cent, of the 67,400 people who apply for food stamps each year in Wisconsin are likely to test positive.

The Legislature has four months to look over Walker's proposal. If it's accepted it will take a year to come into effect - assuming lawsuits from the opposition don't hold it back

The Legislature has four months to look over Walker’s proposal. If it’s accepted it will take a year to come into effect – assuming lawsuits from the opposition don’t hold it back

The Legislature has four months to review the plans; if accepted they will not be implemented for a year.

Even then they’ll likely face lawsuits from opponent – and that’s if they’re not officially blocked by the federal government. 

Jon Peacock, research director for family advocacy group Kids Forward, said the state would be better off investing in better  access to effective drug treatment programs

Jon Peacock, research director for family advocacy group Kids Forward, said the state would be better off investing in better access to effective drug treatment programs

Walker says that the plans are a way to ensure that drug-free people get into the workforce, but critics say that there are much better ways to achieve that aim.

Jon Peacock, research director for family advocacy group Kids Forward said that ‘investing in broader access to effective drug treatment programs, rather than spending scarce state resources on the administration of drug screening and testing requirements,’ would have a far better effect.

The budget that Walker signed this year also called for parents of children aged 6-18 on the food stamp program to be tested.

And he called for drug screening for all all able-bodied, childless adults applying for Medicaid BadgerCare health benefits, 

Both rules are inactive, pending federal approval.



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