UNDATED (WSAU-Wheeler News) Wisconsinites would not have to pass drug tests to get food stamp benefits. But the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee still decided last night to make unemployment benefit recipients take drug tests — along with patients in Badger-Care Plus, and those in the W-2 welfare-to-work program.
All Democrats voted no as the finance panel voted 12-to-4 to go along with most of Governor Scott Walker’s budget measures on drug testing. However the committee decided not to risk legal action by forcing the issue for recipients of Food-Share, which is funded by the federal government. Even if a lawsuit had not developed, Sherri Tussler of Milwaukee’s Hunger Task Force said the Obama White House would have blocked the drug testing of food stamp recipients. Those who don’t pass the required drug tests would get state-funded treatment.
The G-O-P lawmakers budgeted a million-dollars over the next two years to treat those in the unemployment and jobs’ programs. Democrats said the amount would not be nearly enough.
