In this Nov. 14, 2019, file photo, Kentucky Lt. Gov.-elect Jacqueline Coleman, right, looks on as Gov.-elect Andy Beshear speaks with reporters following the concession of incumbent Governor Matt Bevin in Frankfort, Ky. Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman said Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021 she will step down from her second role as a cabinet secretary to focus more attention on the state’s economic development efforts. Since taking office alongside Gov. Andy Beshear in late 2019, Coleman juggled dual roles as lieutenant governor and secretary of the state’s Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.(AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
As Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman steps down as Gov. Beshear’s secretary of the Education and Workforce Cabinet, please see the review below of some of the major failures on her watch:
Almost 20 months into Gov. Andy Beshear’s backlog of unemployment ins. claims, more than 80,000 have yet to be paid.
“Officials from the Labor Cabinet told the Legislature’s Unemployment Insurance Reform Task Force on Tuesday they’re working to address around 80,000 individual claims in their backlog.” (WLEX NBC 18 TV, Thousands still wait for Kentucky’s unemployment office to resolve claims, 9/30/21)
This also comes after a year of paying $15 million in taxpayer dollars to contract with a firm.
“Even with the help of an accounting firm on a $15 million contract, Kentucky has been among the five worst-performing states during the last five months in getting jobless workers their first unemployment payment on time, according to federal data.” (WDRB FOX 41 TV, Kentucky among worst-performing states in paying unemployment on time, 2/2/21)
Beshear’s Labor Cabinet Sec. Larry Roberts stepped down in June after failing to clear the backlog – he gave $8,250 to the political campaigns of Andy and Steve Beshear, including $4,000 to Gov. Andy Beshear’s 2019 campaign. (Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, https://kref.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx)
Roberts is not the first well-connected political appointee to complicate the backlog of claims created by the Beshear administration; many reports have highlighted problems created by Gov. Beshear & Lt. Gov. Coleman:
Lt. Gov. Coleman was busted for helping the politically connected cut the line for unemployment benefits
The assistance came not from one of the rank-and-file call center workers that other Kentuckians were so desperate to reach, but from the then-director of the unemployment office, according to text messages obtained by WDRB News. (WDRB FOX 41 TV, ‘I’m taking care of her’ Kentuckians connected to Lt. Gov. got help directly from unemployment boss, texts show, 3/15/21)
The Beshear-Coleman Administration ignored more than 400,000 requests for help from everyday Kentuckians. “About 400,000 emails sent through Kentucky’s unemployment insurance assistance link between March 19 and May 10 remained unread and were archived by Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration as of Nov. 9, according to state Auditor Mike Harmon’s office.” (WDRB FOX 41 TV, Auditor: Kentucky officials didn’t read 400,000 unemployment emails, 2/9/21)
The Beshear-Coleman Administration put the personal information of UI applicants at risk with multiple security breaches – and then failed to report security breach for more than a month
“Kentucky unemployment system hit by potential data breach, second time in three months” (WLEX NBC 18 TV, Kentucky unemployment system hit by potential data breach, second time in three months, 7/29/20)
The Beshear-Coleman Administration may have even broken federal rules in the process
“Muncie McNamara, the Bardstown attorney and political supporter whom Gov. Andy Beshear briefly installed as the state’s unemployment insurance director earlier this year, told lawmakers during a hearing Thursday that the Beshear administration cut corners in a hurried attempt to approve ‘a crush’ of jobless claims last spring.” (WDRB FOX 41 TV, Fired Kentucky unemployment director: Beshear administration cut corners to approve claims, 7/30/20)
Lt. Gov. Coleman is a focal point of Gov. Andy Beshear’s massive scandal and failed time and time again to fix the problems they created – and Kentucky still suffers as a result.
# # #
Mike Lonergan
Communications Director
Republican Party of Kentucky
(614) 506-3242 (Cell)
mikel.rpk@gmail.com
Just one very important thing you left out. The GOP and Bevins closed all those local unemployment offices down and the system was over whelmed
Mr. In the last 30 years I’ve filed on line or by phone, and called in my claim every week by phone. How would closing the offices affect a claim exactly? You sound like someone who never worked, thus never got unemployment.
Because the whole state shut down couldn’t handle the load of claims.
But you said it was because the unemployment offices closing?
More offices they close less workers it’s not that hard too figure out what happened under Bevins cut cost.
You’re kinda stupid ain’t you Mr.?
I think it would be better to send the governor to prison instead of re electing him.
Wouldn’t you have to commit a crime first ?
Bevins and his friends gave away $15 million dollars for a plant in Boyd County but it was a fantasy plant no one knows where the money went. Now that’s a crime.
If you read the article “The Beshear-Coleman Administration put the personal information of UI applicants at risk with multiple security breaches – and then failed to report security breach for more than a month”
That’s a crime right there.
Lets Go Brandon !!
LETS GO BRANDON! LETS GO BRANDON! LETS GO BRANDON! Kag, you are good sheeple. Take your vaccination and don’t forget your mask. Pull your pants down and bend over for uncle Joe. It will only hurt a little.