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NEWS BRIEFS
Petition seeks defeat of W.Va. drug testing bill
CHARLESTON — A letter circulating among West Virginia lawmakers signed by representatives of church, labor and health groups is calling for the defeat of a bill aimed at mandating drug tests for recipients of public assistance.
The letter is signed by representatives of groups ranging from the state AFL-CIO to the West Virginia Catholic Conference and the Mental Health Consumers Association. They say the bill unfairly singles out people receiving government aid.
The bill, introduced by Delegate Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, would institute random drug testing for people getting food stamps, unemployment compensation or cash payments from federal programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
Blair’s bill is before the House Judiciary Committee.
