Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (D),
in a tight race for re-election, released a
62 page plan for “Greater Prosperity for All.” Among the
proposals, as the
Milwaukee Journal-Sentimental reported, is the tired old
canard of drug testing recipients of food stamps and unemployment.
In 2011 Florida passed a similar law, which was eventually ruled
unconstitutional; 2.6 percent of recipients tested positive for
narcotics, mostly marijuana and the
effort cost more than it saved. Nevertheless, in the wake of
the Florida law, by 2012
more than 20 states had similar bills introduced in their
legislature. And Florida wasn’t the first place the idea to
drug test welfare recipients gained
currency.
The urge to police recipients of government aid is part of the
conservative approach to the welfare state. As Shikha Dalmia
noted last year, “the welfare state suits conservatives just
fine. Its existence gives them an excuse to regulate individual
choices. And it’s their trump card for stopping liberty-oriented
reforms they dislike.
Two months out from his re-election, Walker pulls out the “drug
test welfare recipients” card. Will it pay off? The Democratic
candidate, Mary Burke, hasn’t said anything about marijuana one way
or the other on the campaign trail and it’s not mentioned on her
website. Last year she insisted she was “open” to
legalizing medical marijuana but it hasn’t been a campaign
issue.
Other parts of Walker’s plan include lowering the total amount
of time able-bodied people can receive food stamps and
unemployment, and an income tax cut of an unspecified amount.
The vice president of the Arizona GOP, a state senator,
resigned his party position this weekend after suggesting
sterilization and drug testing for Medicaid recipients.
More Reason on Scott Walker.
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