PENNSYLVANIA Federal office to probe use of funds

Rep. English alleges Pennsylvania mismanaged federal job training funds.
WASHINGTON -- A demand by U.S. Rep. Phil English that the federal government investigate Pennsylvania's use of Trade Adjustment Assistance job training money has been answered.
English, R-3rd, of Erie, said that the U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General's office has decided to conduct a full federal audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry's use of the funds.
"This audit will hopefully uncover the mismanagement of the program and give us clues into how we can get it back up and running," English said.
English requested the probe April 4, alleging that the state has mismanaged millions of dollars in federal funds that were to be used to provide job training for American workers displaced as a result of international trade.
People who had lost their jobs were being told that the program had been suspended because of lack of funds, English said.
Statement
"It is unfair and unjust to punish our neediest because of bungled administration by the Commonwealth [of Pennsylvania]," English said. "The TAA program is critical to help our workers who have been displaced by trade, and Pennsylvania is one of the largest recipients of those benefits."
The state got $11.5 million in TAA funds this year, he said.
In addition to job training, the benefits include increased unemployment payments and job search and relocation allowances.
It's a federal program administered by the states.