Last week, Governor Tony Evers vetoed five bills that would have required those on unemployment to show proof that they are looking for a job and to pass drug tests.
As for why, Evers said it was because he didn’t want to create “additional barriers” for Wisconsinites who receive such benefits.
We spoke with Paul Tittl, Eastern Wisconsin’s representative in the Assembly, who questioned what the Governor meant.
“Basically you are getting a check, for free, from the state of Wisconsin paid into by your employer. The only thing you are required to do is possibly go out and look for work,” he explained. “As far as drug testing, we wanted that years ago. Random. By the way, if you tested positive for hard drugs, we would be able to provide services to get you clean and sober if you wanted to.”
Tittl said there are a lot of misconceptions about drug testing, and also noted that there are a ton of jobs out there, just no one taking them.
“Who doesn’t drive down the street or listen to the radio for an hour and hear about whose hiring?” Tittl asked. “We have so many jobs to fill and we have to fill them.”
He also encouraged people to get a job now because there could be a downturn in the economy and suddenly jobs won’t be available.
