TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Governor Ron DeSantis is looking to see what went wrong with Florida's unemployment system.
Gov. DeSantis said during Monday night's media briefing that he will direct the state inspector general to investigate Florida's CONNECT system. The announcement comes hours after Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried asked the state's chief inspector general for the same thing.
Earlier on Monday, Fried wrote to the state's chief inspector general to "formally request an investigation into potential mismanagement of Florida's unemployment system," according to her office.
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- Ag. Commissioner Nikki Fried requests investigation into Florida's unemployment system
- Thousands who filed for unemployment through paper application still wait for their claim to be entered into CONNECT
- State unemployment fund earning millions in interest, as Floridians wait on unemployment checks
Fried and Gov. DeSantis' calls to action come as several audit pointed out 600 problems with the CONNECT unemployment system. As of May 4, thousands of Floridians are still left in the dark in receiving their unemployment benefits.
Fried wrote the following in her letter, in part:
"Given these failures, I hereby request that pursuant to Section 14.32(2)(a), Florida Statutes, you initiate an investigation into potential mismanagement of the CONNECT unemployment system.
As head of the state’s consumer protection agency, I make this request on behalf of the thousands of Floridians who have been unduly frustrated by their state government’s inability to timely process requests for unemployment assistance, for whom economic recovery depends on the competent government response they deserve.”