SPECIAL MEDIA ALERT: RJ's LAW FEATURED ON KATIE COURIC TONIGHT AT 6:30 PM
Posted by: Darin Schemmer | 02/20/2008 4:37 PM
Tonight, RJ Feild, the winner of Assemblyman John J. Benoit's "There Ought To Be A Law" essay contest will be featured in the first installment of a feature series on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric at 6:30 PM. Viewers should tune in around 6:45 PM, as the coverage of RJ's Law will be at the later half of the program.
At the start of the school year, Assemblyman Benoit announced the creation of a new high school essay contest, the ''There Ought To Be A Law'' essay contest. In the two-month application period that followed, Benoit's office received over two hundred 500-word essays from high school students in Riverside County. Last month, Benoit announced the winner, RJ Feild, a Riverside sophomore at Jurupa Valley High School.
Feild proposed a law mandating random testing for applicants of welfare benefits. Feild, born at two pounds, two ounces, with traces of heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, alcohol, and cocaine in his body, has suffered from the consequences of his biological mother's drug abuse and is afflicted with spastic triplegic cerebral palsy. Feild, whose pregnant mother consumed illegal drugs while on state assistance, proposed RJ's Law to break the destructive cycle of supporting drug addicts with public assistance monies.
RJ's Law would apply the same standard for drug screening that employees undergo in order to obtain employment, a precursor to paying taxes, to welfare recipients. In the midst of a budget crisis, RJ's law would dispense hard-earned tax dollars wisely, dollars that were earned by employees who had to undergo drug testing.
The growing interest in RJ's Law, a winning entry in Assemblyman John J. Benoit's (R-Bermuda Dunes) inaugural ''There Ought To Be A Law'' essay contest, has resulted in national news coverage by ABC and CBS networks. The segments were recently shown on the ''Eyewitness News'' hour on KABC 7. In addition to national network and local television coverage, RJ's Law has been featured in interviews on the Wayne Resnick and Glenn Beck radio programs, in news articles by the Press-Enterprise and the Desert Sun, and in countless online forums discussing the idea.
Tomorrow, RJ will be in the State Assembly chambers as part of the ceremonial introduction of RJ's Law.
Read The Desert Sun article: "Student sees idea advance"
Read Press Enterprise article: "Jurupa Valley High teen figures his idea ought to be a law"
Conservative ideas are not dead, there a just dang few conservatives who can communicate....
What a great and wise young man. We can learn from him. He is a survivor!
What a fine young man and role model for us all. Clinton, Obama, and McCain should take note. This young man has a vision and clarity beyond his years. RJ's Law is brilliant.
This should be a nation wide law. I work in a drug free work place that performs random drug test so why should those receiving welfare from my taxes not have to follow the same guide lines I do.
Coming from such a determined young vibrant man, I applaud RJ and his efforts. In Rochester NY, we ourselves are facing increased crime, high school drop out rates and increasing budget cuts to subsidise the welfare system. This law should be for the whole country and finally give the working people a break. We as working people are held accountable for our actions, pay taxes and subjected to random drug testing. Welfare recipients are only responsible to show up every so often to re-certify their benefits. It has such an impact on the way children are raised and the chance at a functional, sucessful future.
The welfare system should be a helping hand, not a permanent way of life. I would like to hear people comment on how it would violate their rights somehow. It is like being in jail, when being supported by the taxpayers and the government, there should be some stricter accountability. Punish the bad and commend the good, not the other way around!!
ONE WORD, CHOICES.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE MONEY TO RECIPIENT, REDIRECTED TO A "DRUG STERILE" REHAB COMMUNITY ISOLATED IN THE DESSERT. 2+ YEAR STAY. THE EXISTING CLOGGED SOCIAL SECURITY "ENTITLEMENT" FOR DRUG ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS WOULD ALONE EASILY PAY FOR THIS ISOLATED DESSERT COMMUNITY. WHAT? YOU DID NOT REALIZE THIS WAS THE REAL REASON SOCIAL SECURITY WAS IN TROUBLE?
FAMILIES OF ADDICTS NEED "POWER OF ATTORNEY" TO FORCE FAMILY MEMBER INTO REHAB. "POWER OF ATTORNEY" IS THE LOOP HOLE FOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IF FAMILY CAN NOT BE FOUND.
"SUICIDE BY LIFE" ADDICTS, CONTINUING TO MAKE THE CHOICE OF "SUICIDE BY LIFE" WILL REMAIN AT THE DRUG STERILE DESSERT COMMUNITY INDEFINITELY BECAUSE THE WRONG CHOICE IS A CHOICE. HOW MUCH FOOD AND CLOTHING CAN A PERSON POSSIBLY CONSUME IN A MONTH OR A YEAR?
AND FINALLY, WE "NORMAL PEOPLE" HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED AND THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN AN "ILLEGAL DRUG/VIOLENCE/THEFT FREE" ENVIRONMENT. DRY UP THE CHOICES THAT FEED CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR WITH ONE SIMPLE DESSERT REHAB COMMUNITY.
ALL CHARITY MUST HAVE A PRICE TAG, SIMPLE. RJ, WITH YOUR CLOUT, WE CAN GET THESE THINGS DONE, AND I WANT TO HELP. KEITH VOELKER 304-261-4116
RJ touched on what needs to take place all over the country. We commend this young man for all he has accomplished and we applaud his efforts in bringing this before the legislation. We all hope and pray that it is passed throughout the United States.
The recipient's of these government programs have long taken advantage of the working class citizens. Our taxes have been spent ineffectively and inappropriately without any surveillance with checks and balances.
This briefly reflects some of our thoughts regarding unsupervised allowances by our government.
May God bless RJ and his foster parents in their endeavor. Christa Poore and Janine Hughes
RJ what a brave, courageous and wise young man. You have overcome many obstacles, but I think there are many good things that lie ahead for you in your lifetime. You are a survivor for very obvious reasons. I feel as a tax payer that when I take a job I must take a drug test and pass to become an employee. Once an employee I am subject to random drug testing. So if you have public assistance why shouldn't you have to do the same? Welfare should be a short term solution to a situation, not a way of life. I become irate when I hear people taking advantage of the system. But reporting it is useless, which is another problem. RJ you are much wiser than any politician that has ever served and possibly ever will serve. You speak for the average common everyday person. Thank you for standing up for what is right in this country.
This young man is my HERO and quite the Leader. Thank you RJ for your perseverance and courage to take on what is wrong in today's world!
Wow! What an inspiration. I pray the leaders of our country take note. I firmly believe that this law gets passed. I see children across our county that are neglected because of the drugs that are used by parents. I know this law would not stop the habit but would decrease the amount used by parents.
Thank you RJ. Keep up the good work. God has a special place in heaven for you.
One Comment:
Why didn't anyone think of this sooner?!
RJ has really caught my attention with this subject. What a brilliant idea. I really hope this goes through because there are too many addict mothers taking advantage of the system. this is our tax money its what we work for to be spent on drugs. Babies should not be born suffering from these illnesses mothers who danger their children like that ought to be punished. Theres mothers really out there who are trying to provide a good life for their kids and cant afford too and the government does absolutely nothing for them. Thanks to this 16 year old for speaking out