Democrats in the Iowa Senate have rejected a Republican call for drug testing of all Iowans who receive state welfare checks through the Family Investment Program. Senator Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton, says other states have taken this step.
The proposal called for drug tests for Iowans who get Family Investment Program checks. That’s not the “food stamp” program. It’s to support living expenses and over 11,000 Iowans received Family Investment Program benefits last months. The average payment was for $332. Senator Liz Mathis, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says federal officials threaten to withhold money for the program if Iowa starts testing recipients for drug use.
The debate over drug testing welfare recipients happened during senate consideration of a bill that outlines a nearly $2 billion dollars spending plan for the Iowa Department of Human Services. Democrats voted for the plan and it now goes to the House for consideration.
