Borrello: Audit Shows 'Incompetence' by State DOL in Handling COVID-19 Unemployment Claims

An audit by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli found that the State Department of Labor's failure to replace its outdated unemployment insurance (UI) system and the use of stopgap measures helped contribute to more than $11 billion in improper payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. State Senator George Borrello says the audit "exposes the incompetence" that characterized the DOL's response to pandemic-related claims. Borrello says he publicly questioned Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon last year on the amount of fraud that occurred in the system due to the pandemic and "received only excuses"...

George Borrello: questioned DOL Commissioner Reardon

The Sunset Bay Republican says that amount of fraud is bad news for small businesses and their employees...

George Borrello: small businesses and employees bear the cost

Borrello says the state owes the federal government $7.7 billion in UI debt, and he is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul and his colleagues in the State Legislature to come up with a plan to pay off that debt.

Click here for more details on the findings of Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's audit.