Rep. Steve Johnson of Wayland, the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee in Michigan, is launching an investigation into the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. The investigation comes on the heels of recent mistakes by the agency that may cost thousands of Michigan's residents thousands in dollars.
The idea being reviewed is to take that federal funding intended for unemployment assistance and turn it around and offer that additional $300 weekly to people who have been unemployed but agree to return to work.
West Michigan Republican State Representative Luke Meerman says it’s time Michigan dumps federal extended unemployment benefits. Meerman says the idea of paying people an extra $300 a week for unemployment is a major factor behind many refusing to go back to work.
The Unemployment Insurance Agency has paid out more than $5.5 Billion in unemployment claims related to COVID-19 to Michigan workers displaced by the pandemic.