County plans vote
Local measure would support state drug billBy KERRY McAVOY , The Leader-Herald
FONDA - The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will decide Tuesday whether to support a state measure that would require public assistance applicants to be tested for drugs before receiving benefits.
The county Finance Committee on Tuesday moved a resolution to support the state measure to the full Board of Supervisors without a recommendation.
The bill was introduced in the Assembly by Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, R-Guilford. The bill is being worked on by the Assembly's Social Services Committee. Under the measure, applicants who fail the drug test would have to undergo a drug rehabilitation program before obtaining benefits.
Amsterdam 5th Ward Supervisor Karl Baia supports the drug testing. He said many people in his ward are angry about people using public assistance to pay for their drug habits.
"A lot of people walk up to me and say they know someone on drugs who is also on public assistance," Baia said.
Palatine Supervisor Sieds Jonker said it's not right to say people can't be tested while on welfare, but can be tested when they are trying to gain employment.
Charleston Supervisor Shayne Walters said in today's economy, more families in the county are going to need assistance. Anything that can be done to remove people who are abusing the system would help, he said.
Some supervisors said the language of the state measure and the local resolution needed to be clearer.
Amsterdam 4th Ward Supervisor David Dybas said the bill needs to be structured so the state pays for the testing and rehabilitation.
"I'm in favor of this as long as our representative and senators agree to put in the budget money to conduct the testing and the state pays for the rehab," Dybas said.
Amsterdam Town Supervisor Tom DiMezza agreed, saying it appeared little thought went into drafting the state bill.
Both men agreed the county should put a clause in their letter of support saying the state should provide funding for the measure.
A few supervisors were against the plan, saying the policy would be discriminatory.
Amsterdam 2nd Ward Supervisor Barbara Johnson said the plan discriminates against people who use public assistance.
"Personally, I don't think it's a good bill and I'm not going to support it," Johnson said. "This is the wrong way to go."
Johnson said if the state is going to test public assistance recipients, then others who receive money from the state also should be tested for drugs.
Amsterdam 1st Ward Supervisor Vito Greco agreed with Johnson, saying the bill discriminates against minorities.
Greco also didn't like the idea of paying for drug rehabilitation, only to have the person apply for assistance again.
The full board will vote on the matter at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
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DontBlameStopTheFraud
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07-17-08 3:35 PM
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Karl, I've actually attended a few Board of Supervisors meetings and have supported many of your views. Keep up the good work.
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KarlBaia
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07-17-08 11:23 AM
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Karl Baia 5th Ward Supervisor here. I am very interested in listening to the conversation by everyday people on here. I do pay attention to it often. Many of my residents suggested drug testing PA recipients, so I found a state legislation supporting this. There are many problems with the system created by the state and federal government. Anything we can do to remove fraud is good in my opinion. Thank you for your comments on this issue to those who both oppose and support this concept.
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JUSTME2008
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07-17-08 10:19 AM
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I again agree with you IP, and I usually find your posts very informative. I too don't think that PA reciepients should be able to recieve cash. There is no way of tracking it and can be used for "anything" under the sun. What your speaking of "vouchers" makes a lot of sense for many reasons. One of them being DSS would have records of what is being purchased to a degree ( like WIC), and another- reciepients wouldn't feel so comfortable and would "want" to have the cash which = a job. I hate to see how many are abusing the system, it's aweful, Fulton/Montgomery counties are making it a little more difficult by requesting reciepients to search for work and report in I think once a week. This is a great start, but still more changes are necessary, some need that extra push to become independant.
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Blair84
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07-17-08 9:58 AM
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Wonderful Idea. It is about time that the county reacts to the PA issue. More and more people find the easy way out, and its just not right, Jobs are there if they want to earn it, everyone has to start somewhere to get ahead, and its time some people do. Now not all people take "advantage" of the system, but there are alot that do, and that I think is the county's focus. Go for it, Vote Yes on this issue, start the train and see who jumps on board.
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InnocentParty
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07-17-08 9:14 AM
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Alcohol is a drug, yes. Those receiving PA should NOT be consuming it. PA is for food, clothing, shelter. In my opinion (which is usually uselesss), I don't believe PA recipients should be allowed to get their hands on cash. They should be restricted on what foods their food stamp benefit can buy. An ideal situation would be like a co-op where each month the recipient has to fill out a grocery checklist (including toiletries), send it in and receive a voucher for a local grocery store for ONLY those items they selected from the list. Similiar to WIC checks/vouchers.
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countrygirl76
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07-17-08 8:57 AM
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If you wirk for MOntgomery County You get paid from MOntgomery County with their funds Right? Well all the welfare recipients are being paid also by Montgomery County, this is their job. Why should they not b drug tested. I think the county is in for a BIG surprise of all the users. Go MOntgomery County all of us workers deserve it.
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OldJoe
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07-17-08 6:11 AM
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Don’t forget to degrease the foreheads before applications.
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OldJoe
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07-17-08 6:06 AM
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Forget all this drug test stuff. Simply have a once a week application to the forehead in permanent marker of large red bold capital letters that says “PA”. After 1 year, make them get a tattoo. S’lots cheaper than drug tests. We could call it the scarlet letter rehab treatment.
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Howeclose
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07-17-08 5:49 AM
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Great idea, but alcohol is also a drug.
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Barbara
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07-16-08 11:28 PM
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Not only is it DSS handing money to druggies, but also a lot of SSD recipients are addicts too. I believe that if a person has a legitimate disability keeping them from working to qualify for Social Security then they also should be drug tested to receive these benefits. Just because you are an addict is not a legitimate reason to claim to be disable. I believe that once a person fails a drug test, then they should have to take frequent tests to receive any money. Fail a second time and you're history.
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sighing
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07-16-08 10:52 PM
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My neighbor has a small child and was on complete PA. She is now working full time and brings home around $290 a week, FS, Medicaid for both and is allowed 800.00 a month for child care. Several times a week she has to have "something to steady" her nerves and needs some weed and a drink. Her apt is situated close to me so I'm able to smell the regular cigs and the weed cigs. I've called CPS twice and still no one has contacted her. CPS told to call the CPS hotline, but it was best if I called the police as they would respond quicker. I called the police and was told that they're too busy to investigate every person smoking pot and I should call CPS. This woman knows how long it takes to get pot out of your system so you can pass a drug test, so she smoked accordingly. Oh, a moment of silence...she had a crisis last month when her bong was broken!
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shelby27
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07-16-08 6:40 PM
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I think this sounds like a great idea. If they fail the test, they don't receive assistance. Period. They can reapply after 30 days.
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Jr88fanNY
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07-16-08 5:44 PM
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Chemical dependency is a mental disorder - wrong chemical dependency is a choice that does cause mental health problems. So we pay for them to live and use the drugs and then spend thousands on them for rehab after rehab and mental health treatments. Sorry to burst the bubble of some here but we are already paying for rehab for too many of them. IMO if they test positive give them a one shot chance at rehab. If they test positive again sanction them and take their kids away. Better off supporting the kids in the foster care system than living and learning from a druggie parent. I get drug tested where I work and I am WORKIMG for my money. So they should get drug tested for their free hand outs. Is the Amsterdam section Ward in the east end? If so that explains it all Johnson does not want to lose vote the next time she runs.
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StopTheFraud
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07-16-08 3:10 PM
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Johnson sounds like a bleeding heart. "Amsterdam 2nd Ward Supervisor Barbara Johnson said the plan discriminates against people who use public assistance." How? If you want to work for the county, you need to take a drug test, but if you want benefits from the county you don't need to. Is that right? Also, Mrs. Johnson you wouldn't support a resolution to drug test a single person who claims he/she can't support him/herself. When a single person's public assistance is funded 50% by the county and 50% by the state..I have a concern. Mrs. Johnson, I really don't care if someone gouges the system for Food Stamps (100% Federal) or HEAP (100% Federal) but when it comes to Public Assistance and Medicaid....I have a bit of an issue....discrimanatory or not. One way not to be discriminated against....don't go on Public Assistance - see how easy?
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StopTheFraud
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07-16-08 2:53 PM
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If any of you want to see how/what goes on. Show up at your local DSS building. I know in Montgomery County you can go in and just ask to speak to a supervisor. Ask them anything you want. You'd be very surprised. VERY SURPRISED!
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InnocentParty
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07-16-08 2:36 PM
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The burden of feeding and clothing DSS/PA recipients already exists. That's the problem. SOME aren't using the benefits as they were intended to be used. They are using the benefits for drugs/alcohol/cigarettes. They get cash through a HTM from the benefit card. They buy food for someone else with their food stamp benefit in exchange for drugs/alcohol/cigarettes. Where do you think they are getting their own food? Churches, food pantries, etc. The burden already exists.
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InnocentParty
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07-16-08 2:30 PM
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I respectfully disagree with you, Freewill. Chemical dependency is not a mental disorder, it causes mental disorder. The ultimate decision to begin the chemically dependent lifestyle is in the hands of the user. There are rare cases where one might have been born chemically addicted however, again, when they choose to obtain DSS/PA and not work, they should be held accountable.
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Freewill
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07-16-08 2:25 PM
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I agree with Barbara Johnson on this issue. There must be another solution. Chemical dependency is a mental disorder, these people need help. Maybe they should have someone appointed to dole out their benefits. There will be more homeless people with the burden put on local Churches to feed and clothe these unfortunate individuals IF this is approved in Mont. Co.
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IKnooow
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07-16-08 2:22 PM
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I was being slightly facetious about the county workers. The point being just what you said, people getting handouts should be accountable for how the money is used.
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InnocentParty
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07-16-08 1:44 PM
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I totally agree with you, IKnooow. Except for the part about employees drinking on company/taxpayers time. There's always time after work to kick back and have a few. I'm curious as to what other state/county assistance one could be receiving that would be equivelant to DSS? If a state retiree collects pension, it's his/her right to spend that money as they wish. They shouldn't be subject to government running their life. On the other hand, a person who is receiving DSS/PA isn't working for it. Most don't anyways. Those people should most certainly be held accountable for where that money goes.
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IKnooow
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07-16-08 1:26 PM
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Agreed. My beef is with the idea of paying to clean up someone's drug habit so they can receive further public assistance. If my mail carrier wants to have a beer at lunch, what's that to me, as long as he doesn't drive drunk. He's emplyed and earning the money he's spending. Other than the safety issues, if the county workers had a beer on a hot afternoon, who cares. Just because they are paid from tax revenue? That doesn't make sense.
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JUSTME2008
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07-16-08 12:37 PM
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I agree with IP I for one will not help support PA substance abusers. Many employers do random drug testing (prob not enough), especially if there has been complaints on an individual. It's true I am sure that there are a lot of "users" in the work force as well as living on PA. Difference is people that are employeed are paying for their own addictions rather it be beer, cigs, pot,coke,candy bars ect...
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RageoftheDay
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07-16-08 12:03 PM
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Good grief. You should listen to what you are saying. If you did, you would know how rediculous it sounds.
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InnocentParty
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07-16-08 11:58 AM
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County workers, State workers, AND Federal employees are subject to random drug testing. Upon hiring, all of the above mentioned, sign an agreement to such testing. If you're seeing a mail person drinking a beer from a paper bag while on duty, report it. Walk right up and get his/her name and report it. It's YOUR duty as a taxpaying citizen to do that. On the other hand, as a taxpayer struggling to make ends meet and not end up on PA, are you content with paying for PA recipients to sit around all day doing drugs? I'm not!
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TriCounty
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07-16-08 11:52 AM
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Then where is the drug testing of the county workers, city workers, postal workers, etc. I know that if you stopped at your local Stewarts Shops during lunch and breaks you would find many of the patrons purchasing the Single Cans of Beer and drinking with brown bags! I have seen postal carriers getting them during the day, construction workers etc. So if your going to do it to one then don't forget those that are taxpayer paid good money to drink and drive and work regularly! Sick of hearing just because it is public assistance! What is getting paid by the State, County, City? Public assistance if you ask me.
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