A handful of states now require drug testing for those who apply for cash assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (welfare) program, but regardless of how much they want to require drug testing for food stamps, that is not allowed under federal law.
House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) wants to change that and give states the authority to require drug tests.
Aderholt argues that the change would save money. Savings from welfare drug testing regimes comes from having to spend less on benefits as more people are denied over the tests. It would also narrow eligibility for the program for people who automatically qualify through federal heating assistance. His office estimates that the savings would amount to about $1.2 billion.
Without mentioning the immortality of subjecting people who are at their most vulnerable point to drug tests, these tests do not save the state a significant amount of money. Virtually everywhere this has been tried has revealed poor people use drugs at a much lower rate than the general population. And while I have no hard data in my hand to back it up, I would assert that poor people use drugs at a much lower rate than your typical elected official who, last time I checked, owe their paycheck to taxpayers.
When do we start drug testing congressmen?
Republicans control both chambers of Congress and it's entirely possible Chairman Aderholt's bill will be passed, but the president won't sign it into law.
A Republican president would sign it into law without blinking and we know at least several Republican governors would implement a drug testing program immediately. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) has already tried to.