CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Republican lawmakers say problems with Illinois’ unemployment system are not only persisting, but getting worse and they’re lashing out at Governor Pritzker. They want the system to be more responsive to so-called "gig" workers.
Danville area State Representative Michael Marron said at first, he was willing to give Governor Pritzker some slack over delays and other problems at the Illinois Department of Employment Security. But, he said, he and other Republican colleagues are unable to get help for constituents struggling to get unemployment checks, and some being asked to pay back money the government mistakenly gave them.
"Since that time, the Governor has ignored the problem, he has made a litany of excuses, and he has blamed the federal government for the problems. Our caucus has offered help, we have asked to be involved in a positive way, we have requested better communication with the department, and when all else failed, we criticized," Marron said.
DeKalb State Representative Jeff Keicher said—like other lawmakers –he’s hearing from self-employed people who received unemployment checks from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. They got letter from the state saying they must pay back some of the money, often thousands, because of a miscalculation.
"PUA is payable for folks that aren't employees of someone else and they couldn't work due to COVID. Again, think gig economy, independent contractors, barbers and beauticians, folks who rent chairs for a living, think tutors, piano teachers," Keicher said.
Republican lawmakers say the state could waive those clawbacks. A spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Employment Security said IDES is waiting for federal guidance on the provisions of a new law that might allow it.
She said the agency has seen an extreme reduction in its headcount over the last decade; roughly half the personnel it had 10 years ago. It is short-handed.