Bill penalizes welfare parents using drugs

Judges would be able to order that those convicted of making or dealing drugs lose their welfare benefits under legislation which cleared the HouseJudiciary Committee last night. Representative Rosemary Thompson, a republican from Marion, supported the bill. Thompson says the children ofdrug dealers wouldn’t lose THEIR benefits, but the parents with a drug felony conviction could lose their portion of the family’s welfare check,including food stamps. Democrats on the committee criticized the bill, saying it penalizes innocent children. Thompson says if the parents are inthe drug trade they probably aren’t taking care of their children anyway. Representative Bill Witt, a democrat from Waterloo, said the bill was merelya republican publicity ploy that wouldn’t accomplish anything. The bill now goes to the full house for consideration.