Sue Hieber knows what it's like to struggle. She is on disability and relies on food stamps and Bread of Life pantry to survive.
That's why the idea of people using welfare money to buy drugs gets her riled up.
"I think they should test everybody that applies for welfare in the state of Kansas," she says.
Hieber is reacting to House Bill 2686 to establish a drug screening program for the state's 13,000 cash assistance recipients.
Under the proposal, one-third of people on welfare would be randomly screened each year. Those selected will pay to take the drug test. If they pass, the state will reimburse the cost.
A first positive test result would require a person to complete an educational or treatment program and submit to periodic testing.
A second positive result would require the person to again complete a program and be removed from the cash assistance program for one year.
A third strike would remove a person from the cash assistance permanently.
"Maybe if they said well we're not going to support your habit with welfare, some of them would actually get off the drugs," Hieber says.
Critics of the proposal argue it's an unfair attack on the poor and furthers stereotypes. In Florida, where a similar law is in effect, 2% of welfare recipients tested positive for drugs, according to published news reports.
