Our View: Drug testing of the poor will accomplish nothing

People who receive farm supports of any kind. County employees who plow our roads. City workers who keep our water and sewer systems working even on holidays. Contractors who build our state-owned buildings and highways in good shape. People who are down on their luck and need Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to feed their children. Private attorneys who do contract work for the state. Police officers who keep our streets safe. Lawmakers who we send to Helena to make laws to protect us.

These are just some people who receive government payments every year.

Of all of the groups, the Montana Legislature has targeted only people receiving TANF payments to be drug tested.

Under the legislation approved by the House Friday, people receiving welfare payments would have to be tested to see they have had used drugs. Testers would also be able to see just what kind of medications the people are on.

People who supported the legislation made little or no effort to explain why needy people of all the groups receiving government funds would have to be tested.

Apparently the thought was that everybody knows poor people are more likely to use illegal substances than anyone else.

The problem is, despite the widespread belief that poor people are more likely to use drugs, it is just plain not true.

Other states have cracked down on poor people by drug testing them. Some have dropped the idea because it has been an abysmal failure.

Florida found that less than 3 percent of the recipients had any kind of illegal drugs in their system — far less than the population at large. Other states have had similar findings.

Beyond that, the only reason we can imagine for drug testing people applying for TANF is to humiliate them.

People who are already demoralized because they have to seek government assistance will now be required to face even further further humiliation.

Social workers have the difficult task of being sympathetic to people in need while encouraging and nudging them to seek ways to help themselves. Their task will be made harder, not easier, if people are forced to be tested for drugs.

Efforts should be made to improve the self-esteem of poor people and giving them encouragement to improve themselves, not forcing them to take useless drug tests.

The bill will now go to the House.

This whole sad exercise will give lawmakers an opportunity to give speeches and cast votes that may please some. Fortunately, it will mean nothing more than that. Gov. Steve Bullock, who is a bit more enlightened in the best methods to fight poverty, is certain to veto this legislation.

But it’s too bad the bill had to get as far as the governor’s desk.