Read a couple interesting articles this week.

The first ISS - Unemployment reforms sweep nation due to federal recovery incentives talks about reform from the standpoint of the "incentives" states are given in the form of ARRA dollars to expand their programs so that more individuals will be eligible to collect for longer periods of time. The reform here is program expansion.

Another article I read was from the state of Indiana, New Indiana law changes unemployment rules - Fox 28: South Bend, Elkhart IN News, Weather, Sport which talks about new laws around proof of job search where recipients must "submit at least one job application each week" and new rules around acceptance of job offers which outlines when recipients are required to accept offered employment.

State funds pay out billions of dollars a year in unemployment claims due to fraud for numerous reasons. One of those reasons is due to individuals who are not actively seeking to become reemployed. Fraud is a drain on unemployment trust funds and means more taxes for state employers.

I think legislators from Indiana have the right idea, are interested in the right kind of reform and are putting in place laws that are making a permanent impact on the future of Unemployment Insurance as an insurance program. Laws and procedures which address fraud help preserve state fund balances, keep taxes down for employers which in turn I believe will help employers produce more jobs.

Tammy Mullin