ATLANTA –State Representatives Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Sandra Scott (D-Rex), Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) and Rhonda Burnough (D-Riverdale) today announced their opposition to ending additional federal funding for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits prior to the Georgia Department of Labor resuming in-person operations.
“While we continue to receive complaints concerning the state’s labor department, we are troubled by the move to opt out of the federal funding prior to opening government agencies, such as the Georgia Department of Labor,” said these members of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus (GHDC) Subcommittee on COVID-19. “We also are concerned that the state will end these additional benefits without providing additional help with child care, especially for essential workers, and addressing the disparities in treatment and vaccination of Black and brown citizens. We have seen reports that 63 percent of vaccinations are allocated to white citizens and 23 percent of vaccinations are allocated to black citizens.”
Over the past year, these GHDC members have focused their efforts on unemployment issues, co-sponsored legislation to increase accountability within the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) and supported a writ of mandamus filed by State Representative Shea Roberts (D-Atlanta) to reinstate a State Advisory Council to address the department’s operations. These legislators were informed that the reinstatement of the State Advisory Council occurred on April 28, 2021. In the writ of mandamus, Rep. Roberts requested the courts to order the State Advisory Council address problems within the GDOL, as well as provide accountability and oversight of the department. These legislators have also investigated potential systematic problems within the GDOL, and as such, they are concerned with prematurely ending the additional $300 included in UI benefit payments prior to GDOL opening its offices to the public.
While the legislators commend the recent reinstatement of the State Advisory Council, these legislators oppose Governor Brian Kemp’s decision to veto Senate Bill 156, bipartisan legislation which was passed during the 2021 legislative session to create a chief labor officer position within the GDOL.
“Democrats and Republicans have endured a constant trail of complaints from angry constituents dating over a year of calls and emails that borders on negligence,” added these lawmakers. “The claimants have complained of lack of timely processing and payments of unemployment claims and an inability to communicate with GDOL staff. As these claimants demand action, we will continue to demand accountability.”
These lawmakers do not support legislative efforts to decrease powers of Georgia’s constitutional officers, such as the secretary of state. Under Senate Bill 202, which was signed into law, the secretary of state is no longer over the State Board of Elections.
“The governor vetoed Senate Bill 156 to stop the creation of a chief labor officer due to the ‘significant infringements on the separation of powers guaranteed by Georgia’s Constitution,’” said these legislators. “With this reasoning, we would like to know why the governor wouldn’t veto Senate Bill 202 for significant infringements.”
These lawmakers also urge Commissioner Butler to reopen the GDOL offices. These legislators previously requested that the GDOL open call centers and the career centers to service Georgians who request assistance.
“Despite the total reopening of the state of Georgia and schools by Gov. Kemp, many government offices continue to remain closed,” said these lawmakers. “This includes the GDOL even as many citizens are unable to get responses to their complaints. The governor must demand state agencies, such as the GDOL, to open their offices to the public.”
Additionally, these legislators call for the governor to utilize his powers to consult with the GDOL regarding compliance with federal standards, propose an arrangement for the federal government to assist with the department’s payment operations and order the GDOL to issue payments in a timely manner. These legislators also support a federal investigation into the Georgia Department of Labor.
“Georgia Department of Labor struggled to get unemployment benefits to out-of-work Georgians in a timely manner,” said these legislators. “Many Georgians continue to call and email their state and federal officials seeking help with getting their unemployment benefits. We’ve also contacted our congressional offices about a lack of transparency and discrepancies in data reported in its press releases and on its website. We encourage Gov. Kemp to welcome a federal investigation and audit of the GDOL.”
These legislators are also concerned about lawsuits filed against the Georgia Department of Labor regarding its operations and Open Records Requests. These legislators support the Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP), the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Atlanta Legal Aid Society efforts to assist with a lawsuit against the GDOL from unemployed Georgians. These legislators encourage Commissioner Butler to increase transparency by providing requested information, which may decrease the number of lawsuits.
“With the reinstatement of the State Advisory Council, we hope that the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 156 and use the State Advisory Council will address and improve long standing systemic issues at the GDOL, better serve the public and claimants, eliminate the backlog of claims and ensure valid claims in Georgia are processed and paid in a timely manner,” stated these lawmakers. “Finally, we agree with President Joe Biden that child care issues and school closures have blunted economic expansion far more than the extra $300 in federal funding for UI payments.”
For more information on Senate Bill 202, which includes the removal of the secretary of state from the State Election Board, please click here.
For more information on Senate Bill 156, which would create a chief labor officer for the GDOL, please click here.
Representative Viola Davis represents the citizens of District 87, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Natural Resources & Environment, Insurance, Interstate Cooperation and Science and Technology committees.
Representative Sandra Scott represents the citizens of District 76, which includes portions of Clayton and Henry counties. She was first elected to the House Representatives in 2010 and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Human Relations & Aging, Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment, Science and Technology and Special Rules committees.
Representative Kim Schofield represents the citizens of District 60, which includes portions of Clayton and Fulton counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2017 and currently serves on the Health & Human Services, Interstate Cooperation, Information and Audits and Small Business Development committees.
Representative Shea Roberts represents the citizens of District 52, which includes portion of Fulton County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2020 and currently serves on the Governmental Affairs, State Planning & Community Affairs and Science and Technology committees.
Representative Rhonda Burnough represents the citizens of District 77, which includes portions of Clayton County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and currently serves on the Special Committee on Election Integrity and the Economic Development & Tourism, Governmental Affairs, Higher Education and Small Business Development committees.
###