The 13 Democrats in Florida’s congressional delegation are calling for a Government Accountability Office review of the state’s troubled unemployment claims system.
According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the lawmakers want the GAO to see what went wrong and what steps are needed to repair the system, which has been besieged by people thrown out of work by the coronavirus pandemic.
In a Friday letter to the GAO, which originated with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the lawmakers wrote: “Florida is a prominent example of a state that has experienced significant trouble with its unemployment programs throughout this public health emergency. For many Americans, any delay in the processing or receipt of benefits during unemployment can lead to financial disaster.”
The lawmakers said the state has the worst rate of paying claims in the nation.
The Florida online system has been overwhelmed by those applying for benefits since the virus outbreak hit. People have complained they were unable to apply because of problems with the state website.
The Sentinel also reported hundreds of thousands unsuccessfully applied for benefits or did not get paid if they were approved.
Meanwhile, the newspaper reported that a GAO review can take more than a year.
The lawmakers ask that the GAO examine how the Department of Labor can improve oversight of the system and ensure smooth processing and payments, the newspaper noted.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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