House sends Governor TANF bill to take funds from drug-using recipients

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5/10/2011: Newspaper Story - Welfare drug testing heads to the Governor's desk after the Missouri House gave final approval.

4/12/2011: Radio Story - The public testified at a Senate Committee hearing on whether the House-passed welfare drug testing bill would help or harm children dependent on funds

4/12/2011: Newspaper Story - A Missouri Senate committee is urged to require drug testing of welfare recipients.

Intro:	The House now sends the Governor a bill that would take away funds from welfare recipients who fail a drug test.
RunTime:	0:47
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Funds would be taken for three years and given to a third party, unless the drug-using recipient enters a treatment program.

Only Temporary Assistance for Needy Families welfare recipients under reasonable suspicion of drug use would be tested.

Sikeston Republican Bill Sponsor Ellen Brandom argued with Democratic St. Louis City Representative Jacob Hummel about the one-million dollars of funding for testing.

Actuality:	HUMBRAND.WAV
Run Time:	00:14
Description: "One million dollars, that's your bill, right?" "No, it will save them money in the long run." "It will save them money by costing them a million..." "Yes, because we, as a state, take care of these people who are abusing drugs and can't take care of their children."

Enough Democrats sided with Republicans on the vote to make the bill protected from a Governor's veto.

From the Missouri State Capitol, I'm Meghann Mollerus.

Intro:	The House now sends the Governor a bill that would take funds away from welfare recipients who fail a drug test.
RunTime:	0:51
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Under the bill, recipients of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program who are drug users now would lose funds for three years instead of one.

Funds would be given to a third party family member unless the drug user enters a treatment program.

Democratic St. Louis City Representative Jacob Hummel says the cost of drug testing suspected users would not fund treatment.

Actuality:	HUMMEL1.WAV
Run Time:	00:14
Description: "We're going to cost the taxpayers a million dollars, and then we are not going to treat the people we kick off those rolls, so they're going to struggle even more. Aren't we hurting the children?"

Bill supporters say the testing would protect children whose parents spend welfare money on drugs.

Enough Democrats sided with Republicans on the vote to make the bill protected from a Governor veto.

From the Missouri State Capitol, I'm Meghann Mollerus.

Intro:	The House now sends to the Governor a bill that would take away funds from welfare recipients who fail a drug test.
RunTime:	0:51
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Funds would be taken away for three years and given to a third-party if a parent receiving welfare fails a drug test or refuses testing.

Only recipients under reasonable suspicion of drug use would be tested.

Ripley Republican Representative Steve Cookson says schools will help feed children whose funds are taken away from parents.

Actuality:	COOKSON1.WAV
Run Time:	00:15
Description: "For those that say that children will not be fed if we take this money away, I can tell you that these children are given free breakfast, free lunch, and free after school snacks."

Opponents of the bill argue the state cannot afford the drug testing costs, which do not include funds for treatment programs.

Enough Democrats sided with Republicans on the vote to make the bill protected from a Governor's veto.

From the Missouri State Capitol, I'm Meghann Mollerus