Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed a bill this week that would require some people applying for welfare in Georgia to pass a drug test before they can receive benefits.

We agree with this bill.

Welfare or aid from the state is a benefit put in place to help those in need for a short period of time until that person or family, through their efforts, can sustain themselves again.

The establishment of such help programs paid by taxes in order to help a neighbor who is down on his luck is a good thing. Most people agree on this.

But welfare was not set up as a perpetual way of life to be abused by those that take drugs or abuse other substances. That should not be covered by the decent taxpaying people of Georgia.

If anyone thinks it's wrong to take a drug test before accepting free money - tough.

There are many people who earn their money who have to take drug tests in order to maintain a regular job.

In fact, legislators who are paid with tax dollars might look at getting drug tests for themselves in a sign of good faith to taxpayers.

We hope bills like this are a step in the right direction to help insure that hard earned tax money is not distributed to people who aren't willing, if able, to put themselves in a position where they too can someday contribute to the Georgia tax base. This will help Georgia remain a place where a majority of people work for a living, not beg for one.