Alabama Debates Welfare Changes

The bills would do a number of things, including one that would require drug testing for some to receive welfare benefits, and another that would require you to apply for at least three jobs before you could actually receive those benefits. 

 

There are a total of five bills set to change how people can get access to welfare. 

And Sate Senator Bryan Taylor says lawmakers aren’t looking to get rid of the system.

 

“It’s the right thing to do. No one is saying we need to take away a safety net from people who really need it. But what we’re trying to do is correct a system that over time has been abused and continues to be abused and the taxpayers are the ones that have to pay for it at the end of the day so we need to fix that,” said Sen. Taylor.

 

Under one of the bills, you would have to take a drug test to qualify for benefits like food stamps only if you’ve been convicted of a drug related crime in the last five years. Another bill would restore work requirements, which the federal government lets individual state’s waive. People I talked to in Montgomery said that they like the idea. 

 

“It should be required because you have a lot of people that are just playing the system. And I’m not against welfare because you have a lot of people who are disabled physically mentally, and those people need welfare. But you have a lot of people who are playing the system,” said Montgomery resident David Peck.

 

“I think you should apply for jobs because if you can work, you should work. Sitting on your butt isn’t really going to get something done. Maybe you’ll get a couple dollars but you need to get out and work and achieve purpose,” said Montgomery resident Charles Lee.

 

The bills have all been approved in the senate,but they still need to make their way through the house.