DFLers blast Pawlenty administration for frustrating delays in jobless checks

After listening to emotional testimony about delayed unemployment checks, DFLers on Monday lambasted the Pawlenty administration about a new automated system that was supposed to make it easier to claim benefits but has been the source of frustration.

After Dan McElroy, commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, apologized for the "inconvenience," Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia remarked, "This is more than an inconvenience."

A parade of witnesses told legislators at a joint Senate-House committee meeting about waiting on the phone for two hours to inquire about claims, inability to deal with a state computer system and fears that delayed checks would hurt their credit rating or cause missed mortgage payments.

"For two months, I did not get a check," said Tom Gentilini of Gilbert, who got laid off from a foundry and was unable to pay bills.

More than 1,000 people have endured delays in receiving unemployment checks under the new system that went into effect in October.

McElroy said average wait times for people who call in claims is 14 minutes, but for people who do so on Mondays, the busiest day, the wait can be an hour.

Besides problems with the phone system, a new computerized claim process has proven of little use to unemployed people without computers at home.

He and other DFLers accused the Pawlenty administration of opting for the automated system to reduce the state workforce, which department officials denied.

McElroy said the state needed to convert to the new system because the previous one relied on outdated technology that no longer could be maintained.

"The system is enormously complex," he told legislators. "We are determined to get it right."

He said about 83,000 people were paid last week and about 3,500 people are having their checks delayed by a few days.

He blamed problems on a complicated computer code that helps run the system. "It's running substantially better than it had been and continues to get better every week," he said.

DFLers weren't satisfied with the explanation.

"I am just amazed at the incompetence," said Rep. Tim Mahoney, DFL-St. Paul. "You had to be asleep at the switch.

Replied McElroy, "We take your comments to heart. ... I wish it had gone smoother than it has."

Although some DFLers wanted the average phone wait time to not exceed five minutes, McElroy said the goal now is to reduce it to 10 to 12 minutes.

DFLers and the head of a public employees' union also accused the department of intimidating employees who spoke out about the automated system.

"People need to know they can tell us what the problems are," said Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park.

McElroy denied that there was any intimidation, adding, "They will not suffer for telling what's on their minds."