(Boston Orange 摘譯) 波士頓商會發聲明，稱麻州商會政策網 (The Massachusetts Chambers Policy Network) 對例行檢查發現失業援助局 (DUA)在前任政府期間，錯把25億元聯邦經費用於資助州政府失業福利，深表關切。
奚莉
(Healey)政府現在和聯邦勞工部合作找方法糾正錯誤。
他們感謝奚莉政府發現錯誤後，主動並及時、透明的和企業界溝通。在政策制定者發現更多不一致的細節，並把重心轉移到找解決方案之際，麻州商會政策網強烈鼓勵政策制定者在採取任何必要的補救措施時，守住對企業雇主無害的底線。
新冠病毒疫情，以及政府勒令關門所導致的高失業率，都對州政府的失業保險系統帶來極大壓力。經由雇主的持續付款，聯邦政府貸款，以及聯邦經費，麻州在疫情高峰期共付出340億元失業福利。
為了償還聯邦貸款，麻州發行了債券，會在未來10年，除了正常的失業保險稅之外，經由對雇主的新冠病毒失業保險評估來償還。
在最近爆發出來的欺詐申領，超額給付，以及會計錯誤等情況之前，麻州的失業保險系統已經被稅賦基金會
(Tax Foundation) 評為全美最糟的 (第50名)。對目前及未來在麻州開公司的雇主來說，已經是強烈的不利競爭條件，而且早就該做必要的管理改革。
企業界知道，這是奚莉政府繼承了來自前朝的問題，也期待合作解決問題。但企業界希望提醒政策制定者，不要把補充失業保險金的責任，放在因為失業援助局的錯誤，以及政府規定的關門而，已經備受壓力的企業家們身上。
企業界也鼓勵政府利用這機會改革失業保險局的活動，重塑人們對失業保險系統的信心。
Massachusetts Chambers
Policy Network Statement
Employers Need Solutions
to Rebuild Trust in UI System
The Massachusetts Chambers
Policy Network is deeply concerned that a routine audit found that the
Department of Unemployment Assistance’s (DUA) wrongly used $2.5 billion in
federal money to fund state unemployment benefits during the previous
Administration. The Healey Administration is now working with the federal
Department of Labor on how to rectify the error. We appreciate the timely
communication and transparency of the Healey Administration regarding the
discovery of this error and the proactive and cooperative dialogue with the
business community. As policymakers uncover more details about this discrepancy
and shift their focus to solutions, the MA Chambers Policy Network strongly
encourages policymakers to hold employers harmless in any remedial action
necessary.
In our main streets, downtowns,
and business hubs across the state, only employers pay for unemployment
benefits through billions of taxes paid into the Unemployment Trust Fund. The
COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting high jobless rates due to government
mandated shutdowns, put enormous strain on the state’s unemployment insurance
(UI) system. Through a combination of ongoing employer payments, federal loans,
and federal funding, Massachusetts distributed over $34 billion in benefits to
claimants during the heights of the pandemic.
To repay federal loans,
Massachusetts issued bonds that will be repaid through COVID-19 UI assessments
on employers over the next decade, in addition to normal UI taxes. Employer
assessments form the financial support to the state’s UI system and are already
paying for the impacts of the pandemic on the UI system. As small to large
businesses navigate the challenges of this post-pandemic recovery, they should
reasonably expect that the Department can administer the UI system in a
responsible and transparent method.
Massachusetts’s UI system
already ranks worst in the nation (50th) by the Tax Foundation before considering recent
revelations of fraudulent claims, overpayments, and accounting errors. This is
a significant competitive disadvantage for current and future employers
operating in Massachusetts and necessary management reforms are long overdue.
Our businesses are the engine of our economy, and they depend on a functioning
and effective UI system, not a system with a history of fraud and poor
communication.
We acknowledge that the Healey
Administration inherited this problem, and we look forward to working
collaboratively on solutions. While the business community will collaborate, we
urge policymakers to focus on solutions that will not place the burden of
replenishing the UI Trust Fund on employers who have already borne the burden
from DUA’s errors and government-mandated shutdowns.
Importantly, we urge the
Administration to take this opportunity to reimagine the Department and audit
its activities, including its ability to prevent fraud, accurately determine
eligibility, and communicate to the business community and other stakeholders
in a clear, timely, and transparent manner. Reviewing the agency and making
long-needed improvements will send a positive signal to the business community
and help restore trust in the state’s UI system.
Massachusetts Chambers Policy
Network
James E. Rooney, President &
CEO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Tim Murray, President & CEO,
Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
Diana Szynal, President,
Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce
Rick Sullivan, President &
CEO, Western MA Economic Development Council
Karen Andreas, President &
CEO, North Shore Chamber of Commerce
Peter Forman, President &
CEO, South Shore Chamber of Commerce
Paul Niedzwiecki, CEO, Cape Cod
Chamber of Commerce
Greg Reibman, President Charles
River Regional Chamber
Rick Kidder, Co-CEO, Michael
O’Sullivan Co-CEO, One SouthCoast Chamber
Jonathan Butler, President &
CEO, 1Berkshire
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