Pewaukee – Today, the Wisconsin Assembly approved a slate of bills reforming Wisconsin’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) program and Department of Workforce Development (DWD). These are designed to prevent fraud, promote recipients getting back to work and boost the economy. Some of the provisions approved included reinforcing work search requirements, improving ID verification, ensuring benefits are paid to those who lost their jobs through no fault of their own and preventing “ghosting,” when a UI recipient fails to follow up with job interviews or even jobs. The necessity of this legislative package was shown by the failures of Gov. Evers’ administration during the COVID pandemic and the UI crisis that followed.
In response, State Representative Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee) provided the following statements on these bills:
AB 162: “Uniform performance standards for Wisconsin’s workforce development programs will show what works, what doesn’t and whether taxpayer dollars are delivering results.”
AB 164: “This bill strengthens Wisconsin’s UI program by sending a clear message: the work search requirements matter, and they must be taken seriously by both UI recipients and DWD. Mismanagement in DWD can no longer be tolerated when it comes to UI. Mismanagement in DWD can no longer be tolerated when it comes to UI.”
AB 165: “The job of a legislator is to protect taxpayers, not let local governments give away public dollars with no strings attached. This isn’t about ideology. It’s about fairness.”
AB 166: “Before our graduating seniors commit to college, they deserve to know what they’re paying for. This bill will give them the data to weigh costs, earnings and job prospects, so they can invest wisely in their future.”
AB 167: “Unemployment is a safety net, but it should only catch those who truly need it. This reform ensures that those who lose their jobs through their own actions don’t take advantage of the system.”
AB 168: “Unemployment fraud is an unfortunate fact of life, but more must be done to stop it. This bill strengthens security, extends fraud prosecution and ensures call centers are ready during a crisis.”
AB 169: “Ghosting job interviews is a waste of taxpayer dollars and employers’ time. This bill forces UI recipients to take their job search seriously and holds them accountable.”
