Democrats Oppose Help for Addicts

Rep. Gwen Moore is touting her “Top 1 Percent Accountability Act” proposal as an appropriate response to Republican lawmakers’ efforts to require those on welfare to submit to a drug test.

The Wisconsin Democrat’s indignation began to rise when Speaker of the House and fellow Wisconsinite Paul Ryan introduced a proposal called “A Better Way to Fight Poverty” earlier in June. Outraged at what she calls “such baseless attacks against the poor,” Moore felt the need to retaliate with a proposal that allegedly would “even” the playing field by forcing any Americans claiming $150,000 or more in itemized deductions on their tax returns to take a drug test, too.

“As a strong advocate for social programs aimed at combating poverty, it deeply offends me that there is such a deep stigma surrounding those who depend on government benefits, especially as a former welfare recipient.”

“As a strong advocate for social programs aimed at combating poverty, it deeply offends me that there is such a deep stigma surrounding those who depend on government benefits, especially as a former welfare recipient,” Moore said in a Thursday press release. “Sadly, Republicans across the country continue to implement discriminatory policies that criminalize the less fortunate and perpetuate false narratives about the most vulnerable among us. These laws serve only one purpose: stoking the most extreme sentiments and misguided notions of the conservative movement.”

This angry dig at the wealthiest Americans, however, fails to recognize a few important considerations.

To begin with, at least 15 states have enacted legislation on their own terms that require drug testing or screening for its welfare applicants or recipients with the goal of helping America’s poorest to combat their underlying problems, according to research done by the National Conference of State Legislatures. These programs help both needy Americans and the country as a whole by ensuring that money spent and assistance given will boost a struggling person’s own honest efforts to ascend from drug addiction. The “A Better Way to Fight Poverty” proposal seeks to reinforce those measures, a noble cause.

In addition, Moore’s proposal addresses the so-called “stigma” that poorer Americans abuse drugs, instead of acknowledging the root problem behind this “stigma.”

“It is my sincere hope that my bill will help eradicate the stigma associated with poverty and engage the American public in a substantive dialogue regarding the struggles of working- and middle-class families,” Moore said in her press release.

However, a report from dualdiagnosis.org indicates that 20 percent of Americans on welfare reported drug use, and a person who makes less than $20,000 per year is roughly one-third less likely to recover from a cocaine addiction than a person who earns more than $70,000 per year. In addition, approximately 38 percent of homeless Americans are alcoholics and 26 percent are drug abusers, according to data from 2003.

“The time has come to stop vilifying vulnerable American families for being poor and start focusing on the policies that will help create an economy that works for everyone.”

Even if the same percentage of wealthy Americans used drugs as poorer Americans, Moore’s proposed legislation would still ignore the problem drug use causes for both those on welfare and the country as a whole by trying to make a social statement about equality. Instead of trying to come up with a viable solution to the problem and attempting to help the country’s poorest pick themselves back up again, Moore’s outrage focused on bashing the wealthy for being wealthy.

“The time has come to stop vilifying vulnerable American families for being poor and start focusing on the policies that will help create an economy that works for everyone,” Moore said in her press release.

But why does Moore oppose a plan that would help ensure welfare recipients weren’t abusing drugs and misusing the government’s money to do so? Why does Moore want to throw out “A Better Way to Fight Poverty” and bring in the “Top 1 Percent Accountability Act” instead?