Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients

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The history of social welfare can be traced back to ancient times, but the time most influential to the start of social welfare programs in the United States occurred during the great depression. In 1935, then President Theodore Roosevelt introduced the Social Security Act. This act guaranteed pensions, unemployment insurance, and help for children and the disabled. The Works Progress Administration was also put in to place and helped unemployed people find jobs (HISTORY.COM-New Deal). A proposition to mandate drug testing for recipients has been brought up in more recent times, namely by Governor Rick Scott (R) of Florida. This move has raised the question as to whether or not it is ethical to deny American citizens their right to privacy under the 4th Amendment and/or to deny access to these programs if they are positive on drug tests, and what implications this may have on them and their dependent families.

Since the inception of social welfare programs, many changes and benefits have been added. There are now many subsections of social welfare such as WIC , which provides basic goods to women and their children up to age five (About WIC). TANF, which stands for temporary assistance to needy families, and the country’s unemployment program are just some examples of social welfare programs that have been adopted since the New Deal of Roosevelt’s Presidency.

In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. This act allowed the federal government to distribute funds to states in support of welfare programs. In turn, the states have the responsibility to ensure that residents receiving welfare benefits are actively looking for work and moving away from the need f...

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http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/aboutwic/wicataglance.htm WIC:AboutLast Modified: 02/17/2012

http://www.history.com/topics/new-deal New Deal © 1996-2012, A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved

http://www.welfareinfo.org/history/ Welfare information

http://www.ssa.gov/history/pdf/histdev.pdf Historical Development

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-06-01/news/29627456_1_aclu-objects-welfare-recipients-rick-scott Florida Gov. Rick Scott signs law requiring welfare recipients to take drug test, ACLU objects June 1, 2011 ALIYAH SHAHID

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html

CATHERINE WHITTENBURG http://www2.tbo.com/news/politics/2011/aug/24/3/welfare-drug-testing-yields-2-percent-positive-res-ar-252458/ 24 aug 2011

http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/the-immorality-of-redistribution/ Harold B. Jones Jr 2006

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