A bill introduced by Delegate Craig Blair (R-Berkeley) is quickly gaining recognition across the state of West Virginia with Blair leading the way on a Web site dedicated to his proposal.

House Bill 3007 would create a “random drug testing program for applicants and recipients of federal-state and state assistance in the form of welfare or food stamps or both, and unemployment compensation. Any applicant or recipient who fails an initial drug test will be required to pass a second drug test in the following thirty to sixty days to maintain eligibility for or recipients of such benefits. Failing the secondary drug test results in ineligibility for benefit for a period of two years, and requires a mandatory drug test as part of a re-application for benefits.”

Blair states on the Web site, “Nowhere in our state or U.S. constitutions is it mandated that financial assistance is a right.

“Make no mistake, it is a privilege afforded to those in need by the taxpayers via our federal and state governments. I think it’s time that we get serious about the problem of illegal drug users abusing our public assistance system in West Virginia. We should require random drug testing for every individual receiving welfare, food assistance or unemployment benefits.”

The bill is before the House Judiciary Committee and faces cynicism over cost and constitutional issues among many Democrats.

Delegate Sally Susman (D-Raleigh) hand-delivered a letter to Blair’s office of strong disapproval. In the letter Susman says, “As the old story goes, I can only assume someone stole your stationary and then submitted the most ridiculous bill of the 2009 session under your name and without your knowledge.”

“I was surprised the members of your own party did not laugh you out of the House of Delegates,” she stated. “I have to look at the faces of the people who visit the grocery store in my district and those on public assistance are more frequently than not etched with shame, not marred with drug-ecstasy.”

Blair accuses opponents of the bill as being are either “enablers of illegal behavior, drug abusers or the most despicable of all...have a personal financial interest/gain in the demise of a certain segment of our society.”

“Your legislation is an insult to downtrodden citizens who are trying to keep their families from starvation,” Susman wrote. “Random drug testing of people who have fallen on such hard times they must accept public assistance is not only an outrage, but serves no useful purpose.”

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reports in January of this year there were 2,924 recipients of SSI related assistance and 6,797 residents receiving food stamps in Mingo County. Logan County numbers are listed as 2,542 SSI recipients and 7,435 collecting food stamps.

There were 443 Mingo County families receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children and 549 in Logan.

Susman’s letter concludes with a parting shot to Blair: “We can only hope your colleagues will come to their senses and suggest specific drug testing for you, as one response to your Web site.”