Illinois House passes bill to put money back into the unemployment insurance trust fund

Posted on March 24, 2022
Springfield
Lawmakers are preparing to put in some late nights, with two and a half weeks to go in the session. Wednesday evening’s highlight, a debate and vote on a bill to replenish the fund used to pay people on unemployment. (WJBC file photo)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – A bill to replenish the money that pays unemployment benefits to Illinoisans passed the House Wednesday night on a partisan vote.

“The $4.5 billion deficit in our unemployment insurance trust fund is historic, it’s monumental and very difficult to address,” said State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) at a post-session news conference. “This $2.7 billion that we have infused through federal money – ARPA money – is going to allow the bedrock of us reaching an ultimate agreement between business and labor.”

Republicans voted against. State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) recalled Gov. JB Pritzker’s statement about “the grownups’ table” during the state of the state message. Butler, “the baby of seven,” said Wednesday night was the GOP’s time at the grownups’ table.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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