PITTSBURGH —Pennsylvania residents are feeling excruciating financial pressure as most businesses remain closed, forcing scores of people to file unemployment claims at unprecedented levels.People complain of a flawed unemployment system they describe as virtually unresponsive, with jammed phone lines, waiting periods that exceed two hours and dropped calls when they do get through.
Many are turning to their elected state senators and representatives for guidance and support through phone calls and emails to express their respective levels of economic trauma. “Right now there are a lot of people hurting,” says Rep. Sara Innamorato,(D) PA. 21st District. “We get phone calls into our office, people who are near tears. ”
Rep. Valerie Gaydos, (R) PA. 44th District, is hearing the same hardship. “Trying to tell a single mom it’s going to be three more weeks before she can put food on the table is unacceptable “