By Deena Winter | Nebraska Watchdog
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said Wednesday he’s looking into the possibility of requiring drug testing for people who want to get on welfare.
“It’s one of the things we’ve looked at,” Ricketts said in response to a question during his monthly call-in show for the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, noting that drug testing is required for some professions, such as manufacturing.
TESTED: Gov. Pete Ricketts says he is looking into drug testing of welfare applicants, but has no plans to pursue the idea right now.
Former Sen. Charlie Janssen, who is now state auditor, proposed drug testing for welfare recipients in 2010, but the bill didn’t go anywhere after a wave of criticism that it was mean-spirited and harmful to poor children.
But Ricketts said he was often asked about the idea while on the campaign trail last year and continues to get questions about it now that he’s in office.
“People are generally very supportive of the idea,” he told Kevin Thomas on KLIN Wednesday.
He said he’s looked at what other states have done and federal guidelines, but he has no current plans to pursue drug screening.
Drug testing laws in other states often face legal challenges, and skeptics say testing doesn’t save money.
The governor also indicated he’s looking into some regulatory changes regarding unemployment, noting Nebraska has a high rate of people who “could be working” but aren’t.
“We’re looking at all sorts of ideas to help our entitlement system to give people that helping hand up to get back on their feet,” he said.
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