Wrap: The bill won first round approval in the House by an overwhelming majority.  

The bill's sponsor is Sikeston Republican Representative Ellen Brandom. She says the bill will keep taxpayers from funding the use of illegal drugs.

Democrats say that the children affected by the bill will suffer. They warned that that without welfare dollars from this program, families would be less likely to be able to provide for their children.

The bill will require another vote in the House before being passed to the Senate.

Wrap: Republican Representative Ellen Brandom from Sikeston sponsored this legislation.  It passed the first round vote in the House with significant majority.

Supporters of the bill say that this will prevent taxpayers from paying for illigal activity.

House Democrats say that this bill would not only cause discrimination but also takes much-needed welfare dollars away from children.

The bill will face a second round vote in the House before being sent to the Senate.

Wrap: A bill has passed in the House that requires drug testing for families receiving welfare dollars. The sponsor of the bill is Republican Representative Ellen Brandom from Siketson. She says it will stop taxpayers from funding the use of illegal drugs.

Democrats like Representative Jill Schupp from St. Louis County say that calling for drug testing, in this case, is discriminatory.

 The bill will come up for a vote one more time before being passed to the Senate.