A Seattle woman claims the Work First welfare program violates her right against “involuntary servitude.”  She is suing the state under the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution over the practices of the Work First program, KING-TV, Seattle, reported Thursday.

“Neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime … shall exist within the United States,” the amendment states.

Wood said the $453 monthly benefit she gets from the program requires her to either spend 32 hours a week looking for work at a program office or serve an internship at a non-profit for the same amount of weekly hours.

via Suit: Welfare program unconstitutional – UPI.com.

This is definitely a case we will need to watch.  Often times the hours of “work activities” required for TANF (welfare checks) does not equal out to minimum wage and therefore violates labor laws and now maybe it will be shown that it violates the Constitution.

via Local News | Jean Colman, made a career helping low-income women | Seattle Times Newspaper.

I just received this news today about a strong sister in the struggle who was taken all too soon.  When I first heard the news, I was so upset thinking that on May 8ththis strong wonderful woman – Jean Colman – died and I was working.  This woman who had held my hand all the way from Seattle and helped me through the forming of DAWG as an organization. Who had supported me along with many other strong sisters in the struggle through the tough times.  I was working , as if nothing as important as her passing was occurring.  I didn’t have a clue what was happening all the way in Washington State.  She died while I was busy working on details of a Poverty Scholars Leadership School. 

Then, I began thinking about how she would have loved to be part of this Leadership School.  How my continuing my work and planning this school for all the welfare mommas and poppas and all the other people in America living in poverty and struggling to fight the system that keeps us down was a tribute to her.  I was honoring her spirit without even knowing she had left this world.  So after the tears and the sadness, tomorrow I will continue working and continuing this fight to honor her and all the other strong sisters who have gone before and will come after.

Jean Colman, you will be missed and you will be remembered for all the good you did in your life to help all those whose lives you touched……..even those who didn’t realize you had a hand in improving things for them and their families.

The full text of the bill can be read here http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb3007%20intr.htm&yr=2009&sesstype=RS&i=3007

When I first heard about the bill, I didn’t give it much attention because these bills are introduced all the time.  However, now we need to pay attention!  It seems that there is a lot of support to get this bill passed into law and we need to speak out and let our voices be heard on this issue. 

I need everyone reading this to contact your legislator and Delegate Carrie Webster, Chairperson of the Committee the bill is currently in and let them know that this bill will hurt families.

Random drug testing of public assistance recipients is not only unconstitutional it is also against federal regulations.  Random drug testing violates the rights of poor people and could result in families losing their children to CPS as a result of a positive test.  It is vitally important that you contact your Delegate and Delegate Webster and let them know that

WE DO NOT SUPPORT RANDOM DRUG TESTING OF WELFARE, FOOD STAMP, OR UNEMPLOYMENT RECIPIENTS!

Contact Delegate Carrie Webster at (304) 340-3252 or by email at cwebste1@mail.wvnet.edu

To find your Delegate please visit http://www.legis.state.wv.us/House/members/delmemview1.cfm

Let them know WE DO NOT SUPPORT RANDOM DRUG TESTING OF WELFARE, FOOD STAMP, OR UNEMPLOYMENT RECIPIENTS!

Please let me know once you contact your Delegate and Delegate Carrie Webster by sending me a copy of the email to DAWG and any response you receive.