Why is unemployment system still not fixed? We all want to know.

As a state representative, every single day I receive countless calls and emails from constituents who are pleading for help with their unemployment claims. And it’s not just me — this is happening in every legislative office across the state.

In our roles as legislators, we reach out directly on behalf of our constituents to our designated contacts at the Department of Economic Opportunity. They try to help, however, there is little they can do. So we stay on top on any new developments, we respond to every complaint and we piece together the best tips we can find. Yet despite our best efforts, and to the best of our knowledge, so far only four of about 100 constituents we are helping in our district have had their claims paid by the state. That’s correct – four people.

My Democratic colleagues and I have repeatedly asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to do what he can with the resources of our massive state government to fix the system. As we all have come to learn, the system was designed to fail by the previous administration. After weeks of asking, the Governor did direct more resources to DEO, but so far it’s not helping our constituents.

We asked him to use his executive powers to raise the paltry $275/week amount (one of the lowest in the country), but he claimed he didn’t have the power.

We used what little power we have as elected representatives to call for a special legislative session immediately in order to address the problems in the system and try to increase the benefits. On Thursday, Republicans, who control both chambers, rejected our call for a special session to address the pandemic and economic crisis.

We also asked for a discussion on expanding Medicaid (since so many people lost their health insurance due to job loss) and to anticipate problems with voting in our upcoming elections due to the pandemic.

Unsurprisingly, but disappointingly, partisan politics won out over helping everyday Floridians. Not a single Republican voted in favor of a special session and at least attempting to find solutions. Some of those who voted against a special session had even voted for this broken system back in 2011!

I don’t understand how these legislators can look their constituents in the eyes because clearly the status quo is not working. Clearly the Governor has not fixed the system.

The legislature does not meet again until March 2021! So I ask the Republican leadership in the House, the Senate and the Governor’s office — what is the solution? I would love to know, along with hundreds of my constituents who are still waiting for help.