Several bills pending in the Mississippi Legislature aim to put accountability rules in place to prevent citizens from abusing public assistance programs.

On the surface, the reforms seem logical in some cases, but are worrisome in others.

Like many such bills that stem from populist reaction, rather than well-documented facts, lawmakers need to move cautiously to avoid unintended consequences.

A proposed bill would require people applying for public aid to be randomly drug tested. Other bills would mandate applicants perform 20 to 40 hours a week on community service projects.

Another bill would restrict the use of food stamps to only foods that are considered “healthy.”

In most cases, the bills are probably well-intentioned. But many fail to realize important things.

In some cases, the funding for the programs comes from federal sources, meaning the state lawmakers cannot regulate the programs and are simply wasting their time.

In other cases, the bills seem to be based on stereotypical answers in search of a factual problem.

The bills’ existence presumes that many of the people on public assistance are lazy drug addicts.

That may be the case, but it could also just be a populist stereotype.

Before we pass a law and start dragging handicapped and elderly people out to put on reflective vests and pick up trash along highways, let’s make sure we know the problem exists first, then create a solution.

Reforms may be needed, but we need to know they’re needed first, rather than legislate on hunches.