LANSING — Legislation introduced today would take steps to make amends to the more than 44,000 people the state of Michigan wrongly accused of unemployment fraud, resulting in millions of dollars in fees, penalties and other financial and emotional damages to innocent Michigan families. In response, state Rep. Bill Sowerby (D-Clinton Township) issued the following statement:
“I am glad that bipartisan bills have been introduced that will help ensure that the problems with false fraud allegations in the Unemployment Insurance Agency will not happen again. This is a good first step, but the problems for victims who were falsely accused of fraud go further, and we have more work to do. I hope that we can also take action on a Democratic package of bills introduced earlier this year, including my bill addressing the statute of limitations, so that all the people affected by this unfortunate situation can bring appropriate legal action and receive the compensation they deserve.”