California unemployment check hearing (Live blog)

Live coverage of the California Assembly's oversight hearing on unemployment check delays.

3rd & 7 37yd

by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 8:44:52 PM
Maldonado: We brought up issues with EDD management three years ago about concerns with modernization efforts. #EDDhearing
11/6/2013 8:44:56 PM christine
of course they rushed him off the seat too many truths being told for their comfort..
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 8:46:00 PM
Maldonado: EDD was not listening to valid concerns by line workers. #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 8:47:38 PM
Maldonado: There are folks who still haven't been paid since August. #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 8:50:10 PM
Cynthia Rice, CA Rural Legal Assistance, said this oversight hearing is very similar to last one she testified at. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BYaoOpLCIAAFpqS.png
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 8:51:20 PM
Rice: Any advances to more computerization she said affects clients who don't have computer access. #EDDhearing
by Joe Bel Bruno via twitter retweeted by rljourno 11/6/2013 8:51:44 PM
Interesting:#EDD telling lawmakers problems are fixed. And @latimes getting dozens of emails from unemployed not getting checks. #EDDHearing
11/6/2013 8:53:15 PM Anne Stowers
Is EDD going to cover all our late fees due to THEIR mess? Feed us till they unscrew thus
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 8:57:57 PM
Mitch Seaman with the California Labor Federation is talking now: #EDDhearing http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BYaqA2zCQAASCx-.png
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 8:58:41 PM
Seaman: What's missing is the telling of people's experiences who have been affected. #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 8:59:59 PM
Running up against the two-hour mark, but still two more items to go over, Perea said. #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:01:28 PM
Sharon Hilliard is coming back up to discuss budget implications #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:01:56 PM
The EDD had planned on spending overtime, about $9 .5 million, Hilliard said. #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:03:10 PM
Hilliard: "We're going to have to look within the department"if we burn through all the overtime sooner than expected. #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:04:41 PM
Hagman: On overpayments -- do we have an estimate of overpayments to some claimants? #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:04:51 PM
Hilliard: No, no estimate at this time. #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:05:48 PM
Hagman said he doesn't have confidence EDD will get money back from folks who were overpaid.
11/6/2013 9:07:38 PM Elizabeth Park
Not sure how EDD can say they have fixed problems & they are up to date. They are 8wks behind in my payments & I can't get my claim forms. I've been trying by phone the last 3 days over 50 calls & have not yet gotten thru.
11/6/2013 9:07:47 PM mflynn
JoeBelBruno - there are people still waiting for August. There are people that are partially paid and hang on and wait. No bill collectors are doing that. There are people who have lost their home or rental, cars, utilities, etc. Not one mention of how they are going to fix us - just how they can fix a system that I do not even believe can be fixed. They fix one thing and ten other things pop up.
11/6/2013 9:07:59 PM Elizabeth Park
EDD say's problems have been fixed. NOT TRUE!...They are 8wks behind in my payments & my weeks are building! I've been calling for 3 days straight, more over 50 calls & I still can't get thru to a live person, then by noon they close.....
11/6/2013 9:08:13 PM 0
This is all Well and Good but how are they going to fix the issue of people that still haven't received their checks??
11/6/2013 9:08:15 PM kdrosario
Thank you, Mr. Seaman! So many of us have been literally struggling & overly stressed.
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:08:34 PM
Hagman: Frustrated with how state tech systems are so old and when upgrades do happen, things fall apart. #EDDhearing
11/6/2013 9:08:49 PM R
Mitch Seaman is correct. We need to hear from the people affected. I certainly hope they can "fit this in" to this important meeting. The human suffering aspect of this story is not being fully represented.
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:09:07 PM
Hilliard: I share the same concern with you but it's a national issue... Congress does not appropriate money to upgrade IT infrastructure.
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:11:33 PM
Wieckowski: I'm not optimistic that the federal gov't is going to extend federal unemployment funding. #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:13:11 PM
Perea: Ending with last item now, public comments with 12 minutes past initial time. #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:13:26 PM
Public comments should be interesting. People have 2 minutes.
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:13:44 PM
Nicholas Lee, from Sacramento -- hasn't gotten benefits for two months.
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:14:57 PM
Nicholas Lee with a line of people behind him waiting to testify. #EDDhearing http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BYat5vdCMAAIhPE.png
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:15:36 PM
Nicholas Lee, has a wife, two autistic kids and house. Breaking down with frustration now. "I don't understand what's wrong." #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:16:46 PM
EDD claim worker speaking now (didn't catch her name, sorry) -- she said new system requires many more key strokes to do work. #EDDhearing
by Joe Bel Bruno via twitter retweeted by rljourno 11/6/2013 9:16:54 PM
Unemployed speaker at #EDDHearing is on the verge of a breakdown. State lawmakers have to be feeling the sting of this. #EDD
11/6/2013 9:17:39 PM MedicalQuack
Maybe each state as well as Congress needs a non partisan office of tech assessment
11/6/2013 9:18:10 PM Edwin Hamilton
I just received my continued claim form after 2 months and it goes back to 09-08-2013 to 09-21-2013 and I have been waiting and have to continue waiting till the forms catch up? No one on unemployment deserves this, we are trying to find work and are broke!
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:18:49 PM
Carmen, EDD worker is up now. Telling story of claimant who missed eligibility appt because had no money for gas. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BYauyXjCQAAvOQy.png
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:20:17 PM
Sondra Walker, present with husband, a gov't employee. Husband, disabled veteran, on unemployment up now. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BYavIAPCUAAubs6.png
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:20:50 PM
Walker said she and her husband's calls and emails have gone unanswered as they seek answers. #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:22:05 PM
State Sen. Ted Gaines closing out public comment, concerned with cost overruns and wants legislation to address bidding process. #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:22:52 PM
Gaines: wants more accountability for IT contracts, perhaps a warranty, he said. #EDDhearing
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:23:33 PM
State Sen. Ted Gaines wraps up his comments. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BYav3pVCIAEL8kL.png
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:24:34 PM
Chair of Insurance Committee wrapping up the hearing now, with closing of public comments. #EDDhearing http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BYawGmZCUAElisX.png
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:25:32 PM
Perea wants to take a second look at the issue early next year to check on progress at the EDD. #EDDhearing
11/6/2013 9:25:43 PM christine
i cannot hold back the tears listening to this ..ive cried many tears and spent endless hours trying to get paid i felt as if i was begging..i hope this all gets fixed soon not being able to contribute to your family's well being and feed your kids is the hardest thing ive ever had to endure. im so happy knowing that we are finally being heard
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:26:28 PM
Hagman getting last word in, thanking Perea for calling hearing. #EDDhearing
by Joe Bel Bruno via twitter retweeted by rljourno 11/6/2013 9:26:46 PM
State Sen. @tedgaines proposes legislation to come down on spending on contractors after #EDD IT meltdown. Doesn't mention Deloitte by name.
by Ricardo Lopez via twitter 11/6/2013 9:27:04 PM
Hearing adjourned. Live video feed done. #EDDhearing
11/6/2013 9:27:58 PM Ricardo Lopez
Alright folks -- that's the end of the hearing. Thank you for joining us. Look for our print story on latimes.com and in print tomorrow.
11/6/2013 9:28:46 PM R
My personal thanks to the EDD employees who stepped forward on their own time to address these issues instead of being a part of the EDD cover up.