Title:
Virginia legislators still targeting poor people
Message:
Last year, the Virginia Legislature tried and failed to pass a bill that would require poor people to pee in a cup. This year, they’re back at it again. Sponsored by Sen. Charles Carrico (R-Galax), Senate Bill 721 would require participants in the state’s welfare-to-work program to submit to preliminary screenings for drug use. Those identified as potential users would then be forced to submit to drug testing. A positive test would result in forced treatment or a one-year suspension of benefits.
Please ask your legislator to oppose this wasteful, discriminatory legislation.
I sent this Daily Show clip around when last year’s bill was introduced, but if you haven’t seen it, it’s worth another look:
Unfortunately, two committees have already approved the bill and it’s now headed to the Senate floor, so this discriminatory scheme could soon be reality. And make no mistake, it is discriminatory. The bill would not require testing of government contractors, executives of corporations who receive multimillion-dollar tax abatements, or other recipients of taxpayer dollars who aren’t poor.
Please take just a minute to tell your legislators that you don’t approve of wasting money by picking on the poor.
