Varela: Close the Gate the Horse is Out

From the Santa Fe New Mexican - A seven-person unit in the state's Department of Workforce Solutions faces the annual task of trying to sort through how much the department might have overpaid in unemployment benefits. This year's task is large. The department potentially overpaid claimants by more than $97 million in 2009, according to U.S. Department of Labor figures, although a state labor department spokeswoman said a more accurate figure is $22 million. The state labor agency says it routinely looks for those who cheat the system, performing such tasks as matching the Social Security numbers of new hires with those of people collecting benefits, spokeswoman Carrie Moritomo said.

The state recently received a $1.2 million grant to help automate the system that sends notices to potential violators. In a year when money is tight, lawmakers want to know how the state plans to recoup any overpayments. State Rep. Lucky Varela, D-Santa Fe, said this week he wasn't aware of the overpayments but plans to bring the topic up with department leaders who are scheduled to testify late this month before the Legislative Finance Committee, which he chairs. Read more here:

Varela: Close the Gate the Horse is Out