Bailey Seeks Audit of Employment Security

St. Rep. Darren Bailey of Xenia is seeking a priority audit of the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Bailey acknowledges the COVID-19 pandemic and the large number of those unemployed in a short amount of time. He said, though, "Illinois taxpayers deserve answers about why IDES has failed in its mission to provide financial assistance to the unemployed. Adding insult to injury, there is also the concern about identity theft associated with unemployment claims, as highlighted by recent Illinois media reports."

Bailey asked, "What are the problems holding up financial assistance? How can the state's online unemployment assistance application process be improved? How many unemployed Illinoisans had their identity stolen? How much money (taxpayer dollars) has been stolen? What procedures can be implemented to improve and protect the system?

"These and other concerns could be answered with a detailed audit of the Illinois Department of Employment Secuity. Isn't it just common sense we ask the Auditor General--who is tasked with being the state's watchdog of taxpayer dollars--to investigate on our behalf?"

Bailey said, "The Pritzker administration is touting a lower unemployment number, which is a positive development, but meanwhile there are many Illinoisans who are not getting the help they need, and we have no idea of the extent of the identity theft involving the Unemployment Insurance/benefit system."