Where Did Over $20 Billion in Fraudulent Benefits Go and Why Don’t Californians Care?

California's Employment Development Department paperwork in Irvine, Calif., on April 2, 2021. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Commentary

California officials acknowledge that at least $20 billion dollars were stolen from the state by unemployment insurance fraud during the pandemic. However, it’s probably a lot more. Some experts believe it to be as high as $40 to $50 billion. This is more than the entire state budget of most states! It amounts to about $1,000 stolen from the pockets of every man, woman, and child in the state.