The state of Michigan’s unemployment automated phone call system has been overwhelmed the last month, with many callers getting a busy signal when they call in to report their progress finding employment. Unemployed workers are required to call Michigan’s Automated Response Voice Interactive Network (MARVIN) in order to report their status and receive unemployment benefit checks.
 
And that backlog has the Michigan Chamber of Commerce calling for a state probe about why the system is not working.

Wendy Block, director of health policy for the Chamber, told the Lansing State Journal:

“Employers pay taxes to make sure the (agency) is properly administered and claimants can get payments on time,” Block said. “This clearly is a problem that has arisen because the agency didn’t see this. They have been focusing on other priorities and other issues.”

But the state fires back, noting that it has hired 50 new employees since July and by next month will add an additional 150 — that’s up from an earlier announced plan to hire 90 new employees.

What is missing in this conversation is that the Chamber has long championed cutting state agencies and taxes. Back in Sept. 2007, the Chamber was busy fighting the passage of Michigan Business Tax, which replaced the Single Business Tax.