Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has proposed drug tests for recipients of food stamp and unemployment benefits, even though the requirement would violate federal law.
The governor, who is fending off Democratic challenger Mary Burke in a close re-election race, released a long proposal including plans for his next term.
In an interview with the Wisconsin Journal-Sentinel, Walker said he realized that establishing a drug test requirement would not be in line with the federal government’s stance.
“We believe that there will potentially be a fight with the federal government and in court,” he said. “Our goal here is not to make it harder to get government assistance; it’s to make it easier to get a job.”
Though Walker pitched it as job creation policy, his opponent’s campaign said the proposal is just about the 2014 election.
According to the Huffington Post, requiring drug tests for welfare recipients is popular nationally.
Florida passed a law that required welfare recipients to be drug tested in 2011, but it was struck down by a federal judge last year.
Georgia also recently passed a welfare drug testing law, but in July Gov. Nathan Deal (R) delayed implementation of the law while Florida waits for a federal appeals judge’s ruling on its drug testing law.
