By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois House Republicans are not satisfied with the answers they are getting – or, rather, NOT getting – from the Pritzker administration about the troubled Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Since the pandemic began, people attempting to get unemployment benefits have reported long waits to get through, not getting calls back, and security breaches. The state has also sent debit cards to people who neither qualified nor asked for them.

“What is (consultant) DeLoitte responsible for? What is the governor’s office responsible for?” asked State Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro). “Let’s face it: he can push the blame off on anyone he wants to. The buck stops with the governor’s office. We need to have some answers, and, hopefully, that will be accomplished with a special hearing.”

“Previously, when the House Republicans have brought up these issues, the spokesman for the governor said we are showing political favoritism to people by forwarding these names on and trying to get them ahead in line,” said State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield). “That’s BS! That’s absolute BS!”

In response to questions about IDES staffing, the governor’s spokeswoman, Jordan Abudayyeh, issued the following statement:

“Next week, there will be thousands of Illinoisans who will be forced to decide what bills to pay as they struggle to make ends meet thanks to congressional Republicans like Congressman Davis and the entire Illinois GOP delegation, who are working to prevent an extension of the additional $600 pandemic unemployment benefit. Illinoisans should not be fooled by their phony outrage when they won’t vote to support the critical benefits working families need. It is also incredibly disingenuous for Republicans who voted against ensuring IDES was properly staffed and funded to use the challenges the agency is now facing because of their intentional neglect as a political attack.”

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]