Pritzker, Davis Snipe over Unemployment System
Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) has been critical of the state’s handling of the spike in unemployment cases and fraud.
Governor JB Pritzker’s administration and a downstate Congressman are sniping over the Illinois unemployment insurance program, fraud, delays, and backlogs.
Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) tweeted a video Wednesday night about being the victim of unemployment fraud.
The official account of the Illinois Department of Employment Security shot back at Davis.
(Disclosure: I worked on Davis’ first campaign for Congress in 2012.)
Pritzker was asked Thursday about the spat between Davis and the state agency.
“What I know is that the Congressman has been sniping without helping,” the Governor said. “The Congressman goes to Washington, DC and says to everybody here that he’s helping, then goes there and votes against the things that would be of assistance to us. Remember, the federal government set up the programs, the federal government is responsible for making the changes that are necessary to these programs. And I have not heard a peep from him about what he’s going to do to help out.”
Davis, of course, responded on Twitter.
While the two sides bicker, thousands are reporting fraud or backups in receiving unemployment benefits in a system the state has had since March to fix. Congress, meanwhile, can’t find agreement on a stimulus bill to address checks to taxpayers, municipal and state funding, mass transit funding, or more funding for unemployment insurance.
Our government at work.
