As we kick off the new year, may the coming days be filled with hope, joy, and opportunities. I wish each and every one of you a 2024 filled with abundance, laughter, and beautiful moments shared with your loved ones.

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On Dec. 27, the nonpartisan Office of the Auditor General released a new audit that further exposes the dysfunction at Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the OAG’s fifth and final audit of the UIA in response to a 2020 request by legislative leaders.

Despite the Whitmer administration’s claim to have fixed problems at the troubled agency, the audit released today shows the UIA failed to investigate and address fraud and improper payments as recently as 2022 — years after the start of the pandemic.

The audit found that between January 2020 and October 2022, the agency did not attempt to identify a large share of imposter claims and did not attempt to recover many payments and penalties. The report revealed the agency made $245.1 million in payments to ineligible individuals, even after the agency found that an individual was dead or in prison.

This audit sheds light on the continued failures at the unemployment agency and emphasizes the need for reforms. It’s clear that we need to find solutions that prevent fraud, add accountability, and improve service to the businesses and workers who pay into this system.

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January is Radon Action Month in Michigan, and residents are encouraged to learn more about this environmental hazard and test their homes during the winter months.

You cannot see, smell, or taste radon, and there are no short-term side effects that could cause alarm or warn of its presence. However, long-term exposure to radon increases the risk of developing lung cancer, which accounts for more deaths in both men and women than any other form of cancer in the U.S., according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

Behind smoking, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer and is considered a leading environmental cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.

Residents are encouraged to test for radon every two to five years. If a radon mitigation system was previously installed in the home, residents are encouraged to test every two years to make sure that radon levels remain in the acceptable range.

In Michigan, one in every four Michigan homes is projected to have radon levels exceeding the federal action level of 4 picocuries per liter of air (4 pCi/L).

For comprehensive information and resources on radon testing, visit Michigan.gov/Radon or reach out to EGLE’s Indoor Radon hotline at 800-723-6642 (800-RADONGAS).

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If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by calling (517) 373-3906 or emailing RobertBezotte@house.mi.gov. I am always happy to hear from people in our community.

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