House GOP approves bill allowing companies to force genetic testing on workers

drst:

bilt2tumble:

invisiblelad:

kaijutegu:

postmarxed:

mostlysignssomeportents:

If you think your genetics are your own personal beeswax, think again. Amidst all the hoopla surrounding the Affordable Care Act this week, the House GOP quietly pushed forward a bill – HR 1313 – that would make it legal for employers to demand genetic testing from workers. Workers who refuse could be penalized for thousands of dollars.

On Wednesday, a House committee approved the bill with “all 22 Republicans supporting it and all 17 Democrats opposed,” according to Business Insider.

https://boingboing.net/2017/03/10/house-gop-approves-bill-allowi.html

This bill actually allows employers to include genetic testing in any (ostensibly voluntary) employee wellness programs they offer. If employees refuse to take part in these programs they can be forced to pay 30-50% more for health insurance. The original rule that penalizes workers for not taking part in these invasive programs is part of Obamacare this just ads genetic testing to it.

hello eugenics my old friend

i’ve come to visit you again

Because a law that’s really creepy

has repercussions we’ve already seen

it’s called “american eugenics led the nazis to their plans no seriously we came up with this shit and didn’t actually stop until the seventies”

“and it directly targets the poor and minorities and disabled people and hey you know what’s really not cool is forced sterilizations which totally happened until 2010 in california”

“and- you know what, this song parody got derailed ages ago but hey seriously this is bad. 

this was invasive under the ACA but adding genetic testing takes it a step further. It can impact your entire family and absolutely will be used to punish people for existing 

fuck this 

It was introduced by NC Representative Virginia Foxx too (the woman who questioned the validity of Matthew Shepard’s hate crimes in front of his mother).  

If it doesn’t pass THIS TIME? It’ll pass once they’ve reworded/changed it. Why? Because people in this country have ALREADY given up their privacy. I mean, I watch these TV Commercials for Genealogy Services that will tell you what percentage of your genetic history comes from what part of the world. And all I can think is:

Do people not realize they are GIVING A PRIVATE COMPANY ACCESS TO/THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECORD *** YOUR FUCKING DNA PROFILE***?!?!?!?! That, once your genetic record/Genetic Identity IS OUT OF YOUR CARE/CONTROL, it’s GONE. It’s OUT THERE. There ARE NO TAKE-BACKsies.

Yet I see more and more of these services. More and more commercials which usually means money is being made. People are giving up the most basic facet of their identities for coffee table discussion fodder.

If this doesn’t pass. The next one will.

The thing is this bill repeals the legal protections that right now keep those private companies from abusing your genetic data along with giving your employer the right to demand you take a genetic test.