CHARLESTON, W.Va. - House Judiciary Chairwoman Carrie Webster, D-Kanawha, who controls the fate of a bill to drug-test recipients of welfare or other public assistance (HB3007), said Wednesday she has some serious issues with it.

"I clearly have some concerns about it from a public policy standpoint," she said.

After considerable publicity and promotion by the bill's lead sponsor, Delegate Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, the bill finally surfaced in the House Tuesday, and was assigned to Webster's committee.

She said the issue to date has been "distorted and manipulated against those with the most need," and said it gives the implication that recipients of welfare, food stamps or other public assistance are more likely to be drug addicts.

"The public is being told something without hearing the other side," Webster said.

"Does this mean everybody who lost their jobs at Ravenswood be subjected to a drug test?" she said of the closing of the Century Aluminum, which forced hundreds of workers onto the unemployment rolls.

"What about our employees who are on state assistance because they don't make enough money from their state jobs?" she said.

As drafted, the bill would require random drug testing of anyone receiving welfare, food stamps or unemployment compensation.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - House Judiciary Chairwoman Carrie Webster, D-Kanawha, who controls the fate of a bill to drug-test recipients of welfare or other public assistance (HB3007), said Wednesday she has some serious issues with it.

"I clearly have some concerns about it from a public policy standpoint," she said.

After considerable publicity and promotion by the bill's lead sponsor, Delegate Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, the bill finally surfaced in the House Tuesday, and was assigned to Webster's committee.

She said the issue to date has been "distorted and manipulated against those with the most need," and said it gives the implication that recipients of welfare, food stamps or other public assistance are more likely to be drug addicts.

"The public is being told something without hearing the other side," Webster said.

"Does this mean everybody who lost their jobs at Ravenswood be subjected to a drug test?" she said of the closing of the Century Aluminum, which forced hundreds of workers onto the unemployment rolls.

"What about our employees who are on state assistance because they don't make enough money from their state jobs?" she said.

As drafted, the bill would require random drug testing of anyone receiving welfare, food stamps or unemployment compensation.

Individuals who fail an initial test would have 60 days to successfully pass a second drug test, or lose all public assistance benefits.

Blair has said he will try to use public pressure to get the bill on the committee agenda, but Webster said as of Wednesday morning, her office had received no calls or e-mails on the issue.

Webster said, as Judiciary chairwoman, she has an obligation to screen out bad legislation.

"If it is really bad public policy, my job is as the gatekeeper," she said.

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