RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The subpoenaed chief of North Carolina's unemployment benefits office found herself Wednesday in an uncomfortable spot before a General Assembly committee — talking to legislators about billions owned to the federal government and how jobless data is shared with the governor.
Assistant Commerce Secretary Lynn Holmes was grilled for more than an hour under oath. The subpoena was issued after she didn't attend a Revenue Laws Study Committee meeting last month. Holmes attributed her absence to a miscommunication.
Holmes defended the Division of Employment Security and its predecessor agency she also led over whether they reacted soon enough or strongly enough in raising concerns to lawmakers about why business taxes paid to the unemployment fund weren't keeping up with benefits. The Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund became insolvent in early 2009, and the state now owes $2.6 billion to the federal government to make up the difference.
GOP lawmakers on the panel also asked Holmes about protocol for giving embargoed unemployment data to Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue's office before it is released.
Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO, part of your ALM digital membership.
Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- Critical BenefitsPRO information including cutting edge post-reform success strategies, access to educational webcasts and videos, resources from industry leaders, and informative Newsletters.
- Exclusive discounts on ALM, BenefitsPRO magazine and BenefitsPRO.com events
- Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
Already have an account? Sign In
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
