Drug Testing for the Poor? Fine. How About For the Rich Then?

WISCONSIN - A Wisconsin congresswoman is proposing that wealthy taxpayers submit to drug tests - just like comparably poor members of society for welfare benefits - in order to qualify for tax breaks.

Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) introduced the Top 1% Accountability Act last week requiring all those claiming itemized deductions in any year over $150,000 to undergo drug tests or take lower standard deductions.

The requirement would only fall on households with a yearly federal adjusted gross income of more than $1m.

The bill is a retort to Republicans in several states including Wisconsin where the recipients of certain welfare benefits have to undergo drug tests.

Gov. Scott Walker signed off on a rule in November to start drug testing welfare recipients and is currently suing the federal government to drug test food stamp recipients, as federal law prohibits states from imposing any additional eligibility conditions on food stamp recipients.

He has even approved a rule which requires those seeking unemployment benefits to undergo drug tests. Walker has defended the requirements, saying they help ensure a drug free workforce.

Moore, who herself received welfare, said in a statement that she is deeply offended that there is such a deep stigma surrounding those who depend on government benefits.

"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," the statement said. "These laws serve only one purpose: stoking the most extreme sentiments and misguided notions of the conservative movement."

In an interview with the Guardian, Moore said she was inspired to introduce the bill by Paul Ryan when he rolled out his anti-poverty initiative. Moore said when Ryan introduced the program he pushed the narrative that poor people are drug addicts.

As noted by the Washington Post Editorial Board, the program offers no real sense of how states might work through a series of issues such as designing a better welfare system.

Image: Rep. Gwen Moore