Battle Creek Times

Rep. Matt Hall (R-Marshall), who chairs Michigan’s Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic, is seeking information on why the state’s unemployment agency didn’t accept assistance from Quicken to tackle its large amount of claims.

“I think people throughout Michigan – notably the 124,000 who have struggled mightily to have their unemployment claim processed or even speak with someone at the agency – deserve to hear the agency’s reasoning for turning down this offer,” Hall said in a press release from the Michigan House Republicans website. 

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency previously reported it received around 150,000 calls daily when claims were at their peak but were only able to handle between 5,000 to 7,000 of those calls, according to Michigan House Republicans. 

“When Gov. [Gretchen] Whitmer made the decision to close down small businesses across Michigan, the agency quickly became overwhelmed by the amount of claims they were getting and people have waited weeks without being able to pay bills or put food on the table,” Hall said in the press release. “Despite this clear issue, the UIA chose not to partner with an entity that could have solved problems and helped the agency pay these individuals the benefits they have earned.”

Hall is also asking UIA Director Steve Gray to testify before the committee this week and provide an updated number on the amount of unemployed individuals in the state that haven’t been paid for their claims.

“Our committee sent written follow-up questions to Director Gray in which this information was requested, but the answer field was left blank,” Hall said in the press release. “It appears committee testimony is the only place where the people of Michigan can hear this valuable information shared, so I look forward to Director Gray’s participation.”