Ah, Craig Blair. Our West Virginia State Senator.
Out there beating up on poor people again.
Senator Craig Blair
Last week, Craig Blair introduced legislation (SB 348) that would set up a pilot program to drug test welfare recipients.
That would be poor people.
But Blair is mum when it comes to drug testing corporate welfare recipients.
Why the double standard?
Blair did not return calls seeking comment.
Similar drug testing legislation is being introduced in other states based on the belief that those on welfare use drugs at a higher rate.
Put aside, for the moment, arguments that such drug testing is unconstitutional, scientifically unsound, and fiscally irresponsible.
We wanted to ask Senator Blair — why drug testing for poor welfare recipients, but not for rich welfare recipients?
Let’s take the case of West Virginia’s only billionaire — Jim Justice.
Last year, Jim Justice’s Greenbrier Resort was the beneficiary of a $25 million tax break that his lobbyist — then Democratic Party chairman Larry Puccio — rammed through the legislature on the last day of the session for the Greenbrier’s new medical facility.
To Senator Blair’s credit, he voted against the welfare payment to Justice.
But why drug test poor welfare recipients if you aren’t going to drug test rich welfare recipients?
No justice there.