W.Va. Pol Still Hot for Welfare Drug Testing

A legislative interim committee expects to hear more today about one of the "bright, shiny objects" of their 2009 regular session, "a bill to mandate drug testing for recipients of public assistance," The Associated Press reports.

"Delegate Craig Blair has been asked to give a presentation on Wednesday about the idea to the Legislature's interim Select Committee on Health," AP's Tom Breen writes. "The Berkeley County Republican wants drug tests for people who receive food stamps, unemployment benefits and other public assistance he calls welfare."

Breen notes that the proposal "died in committee this year, and Blair unsuccessfully tried to bring it to the floor for a vote." The article adds that barring any further special sessions this year, "the Legislature won't actually vote on new bills until the 2010 regular session."