As problems persist with Florida's unemployment website, Crist calls for investigation
TALLAHASSEE — It's been a month since Douglas Stribling was laid off from his welding job, but he has yet to receive a dime in unemployment benefits.
With a wife recently diagnosed with cancer, Stribling said he feels helpless.
"It's really hard right now," said Stribling, 63, of St. Petersburg. "I can't get anyone on the phone. The system is all screwed up."
Laments like Stribling's have been common throughout Florida ever since the Oct. 15 launch of the state's new $63 million unemployment website, CONNECT, which processes claims for 230,000 recipients. Because of a 2011 law passed by the Legislature, recipients must register online, a requirement that federal officials this year found violated the civil rights of the unemployed. State officials say the federal investigation was politically driven and are objecting to that finding.
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