FIRED DRUG USERS SHOULDN'T GET UNEMPLOYMENT

Although on the back burner for now, battle lines are drawn over a Missouri legislative proposal that would bar fired workers who test positive for drugs from receiving unemployment benefits.

When state Sen. John Loudon's measure moves ahead, opponents which include labor and Democrats, traditional supporters of organized labor will take on business and Republicans, who control the Senate and are pushing the legislation.

Loudon, R-Ballwin, chairs the Senate Labor Committee. His bill, which was debated on the Senate floor a couple of weeks ago, seeks to release companies from paying unemployment benefits to workers who are fired after testing positive for drugs, providing companies make employees aware of their no-drug policies.

Opponents, including state Sen. Ken Jacob, D-Columbia, call the measure an "anti-worker bill" that unfairly punishes people with drug-dependency problems. Jacob says the bill would penalize someone for drug use even using drugs had no effect on job performance, and being without a job won't help someone with a drug problem overcome the problem. Jacob also says the legislation would allow employers to set standards that might not be applied fairly to all employees.

Among opponents are the AFL-CIO of Missouri. A lobbyist for the group says even if a person has a drug problem, unemployment benefits and treatment programs can help turn a bad situation around. He says the benefits were created to help the family at home when there is no money coming in.

Among proponents is Associated Industries of Missouri, which represents large business throughout the state. It and other supporters believe state taxpayers shouldn't have to pick up the expenses for the misconduct of workers. The group stresses that a drug user receiving unemployment benefits can use those tax dollars to buy drugs, and that ought not be allowed to happen.

Loudon says his bill would bring some accountability to the employee who violates the no-drug policy and would serve as a wake-up call. He also says it would put a stop to the practice of workers getting drug-tested and fired, sitting on unemployment for a while, and then go right back to work someplace else, and continue to play the system in that fashion.

The truth is, many employers probably are surprised to learn that someone who is fired for violation of a no-drug policy can get unemployment benefits. It is, in fact, also like rewarding someone for misbehaving on the job and giving them tax dollars to do with what they please, which can include buying drugs.

For those reasons, Loudon's bill makes sense.