* From August…
The House Democrats said each of their offices are dealing with, on average, “60-90 open cases at any given time, some dating as far back as mid-March.” They asked that those constituents “receive a call back from IDES within 7-10 days,” requested that IDES directly coordinate efforts with their district office staff and that “IDES increase staff resources dedicated to working with district office staff to handle outstanding cases.”
Gov. Pritzker’s press secretary Jordan Abudayyeh said in response that the administration is committed to working with the General Assembly, but she also claimed “multiple” staff members from IDES and the governor’s office are already “working as liaisons between the General Assembly and the agency to answer their questions,” adding: “We have implemented every solution at our disposal to provide immediate relief and are more than willing to implement any ideas from the General Assembly.”
But then came Abudayyeh’s rejection: “What we will not do is take the 60 to 90 claims General Assembly members call on behalf of each week, and move those claimants to the front of the line ahead of the tens of thousands of claims the department is working to address. The agency cannot pull staff away from processing claims in the system to prioritize claims from legislators.”
* Center Square…
State Rep. Mike Marron, R-Fithian, said he can’t get anyone at the state agency to return his calls after constituents pleaded for help. […]
Marron said a number he was provided to contact the state agency director was no longer in service and he has nowhere else to turn.
“Until the majority [Democratic party] decides that they want to hold people accountable for this disaster, I don’t know what to tell people anymore,” Marron said. “I will tell you that I’m ashamed of this. And I’m ashamed I can’t get a hold of anybody. And somebody needs to get me some answers.”
* Meanwhile…
* From the Illinois Department of Employment Security’s website…
The health and safety of our customers and staff are of highest importance.
In order to protect everyone through social distancing, IDES offices are closed to the public until further notice.
*** UPDATE *** From Jordan Abudayyeh…
Acting [IDES] Director Kristin Richards called Rep. Marron today to inform him she would be happy to schedule a meeting with him to discuss the complexity of what states’ unemployment agencies are dealing with nationwide. That’s a discussion that requires some time and the director explained that she’d be happy to schedule that meeting before Christmas. The Representative could have saved himself some time in the cold if he would have reached out and asked to speak with the director.
He should’ve also tried contacting the legislative liaison before engaging in this stunt.
- Just Me 2 - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 10:44 am:
The complete and total failure of IDES is perhaps this administration’s biggest failure, second only to the Veterans Home.
- Bruce( no not him) - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 10:44 am:
I guess I can go to Subway for delicious sandwich while I wait,
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 10:52 am:
Being in a super minority, he has time to wait…
- NIU Grad - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 10:53 am:
Is swinging by the closed office a gimmick? Yes. Do gimmicks work in Illinois politics? If you say no, I have a Carhart jacket and a Harley to sell you.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:02 am:
Dude, you’re gonna need a sleeping bag.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:02 am:
Hard to believe that no one from IDES government relations has spoken with Rep. Marron, since it’s their job to do that sort of work. Or is he saying that no one at IDES will speak to him about specific individuals he is seeking to help?
- friendofthefamily - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:02 am:
IDES could save a lot of time if they just did something in their computer system to cut off payments to the fraudster that made a claim in my name. Instead, I have had to make 4 calls, have received numerous letters, and the state has paid several thousand dollars. It could have been easy and they would deny it when my employer said I was still employed and it was fraudulent. But nope, IDES has wasted precious time and money by not having a system to catch the fraud.
- SAP - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:03 am:
I guess he can’t wait in front of every IDES employee’s work from home office.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:03 am:
NIU Grad-
Whatta you gotta have for that Carhartt?
Mine is in tatters, I know the one you’re selling is pristine.
- Ike - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:04 am:
Gimmicks work in politics in general. Not just IL.
- SumGai1986 - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:06 am:
==Being in a super minority, he has time to wait…==
Joking aside, this is a serious issue. Like, serious serious. I got a prepaid card for a guy who hasn’t lived in my house in 25 years. My dad got scammed twice in three months. How does this happen? It seems like there is ZERO CONTROL over these benefits.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:09 am:
=== Joking aside===
… Marron had better pack a lunch… lunches.
Also being in a super minority in the GA isn’t much juice.
Hopefully all you cite will remedy their situation, I too have had those I know fall victim.
- Eastside - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:16 am:
I love reading these threads about Republicans in Illinois. Half the time people on here are agreeing with Madigan and Pritzker that they are the source of all of Illinois’ problems and the other half people are talking about how irrelevant they are. Pick a lane.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:18 am:
===they are the source of all of Illinois’ problems===
Really? Where?
===the other half people are talking about how irrelevant they are.===
The Raunerites are relevant? Huh.
- Techie - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:24 am:
Oops, posted the wrong link on my previous comment. Meant to post this one:
https://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois-unemployment-rate-hits-record-high/article_c490869f-4762-5070-b1f2-fe2ddb192514.html
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:25 am:
Wonder if Maroon bills the campaign or District Office fund for the RT Fithian-SPI junket? BTW IDES directors changed recently. Did he get # for new director? Hey he got a big pr bump from Capt. Fax so this is probably a “win”
- The Failing New York Times - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:25 am:
What do people expect to happen when you have not invested in institutions year after year? Government was literally functioning bare bones pre-covid, and were then expected to deliver on services during a once in a lifetime crisis? Give me a break. If you want institutions to do what they’re supposed to, fund them. Is the GOP (and even some Dems) ready to talk about sources for additional revenue?
- Chicagonk - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:28 am:
This issue if it doesn’t get fixed soon will lead to Dem losses in 2022. It doesn’t matter if it’s Pritzker’s fault or not. This is a much bigger threat to Pritzker in 2022 than the LaSalle Veteran’s Home because it touches a whole lot more people (and that number is growing daily).
- Techie - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:30 am:
@The Failing New York Times
This is exactly what I’ve been saying. Nowhere have I seen that Congress has given the state unemployment agencies additional funding to handle a huge increase in the number of claims they need to process.
How can we possibly expect IDES to handle 2-5 times as many claims as they would normally, month after month? It makes no sense, of course there’s going to be a huge backlog.
- midway gardens - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:37 am:
Does this State do anything well?
- Streamwood Retiree - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:48 am:
@Chicagonk, as is stated here so often, “Governor’s own”. The working class are the Democratic Part’s base. Or they were. it seems like looting and burning on Michigan avenue gets the Party to roll over, unemployed working people of all races? “Who cares about those slobs?”
- Nagidam - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 11:59 am:
===The complete and total failure of IDES is perhaps this administration’s biggest failure, second only to the Veterans Home.===
I understand the sentiment here but I would put the Veterans home as the biggest failure. I would also add the FOID/CCW issue up there. The Governor was dealt a bad hand with sweeps from the previous administration and came out with a workable solution in a press release. That was a year ago and things have gotten worse as none of his ideas were implemented. And it is not a lack of money. The FOID/CCW system is a user fee funded system.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 12:00 pm:
“Dude, you’re gonna need a sleeping bag.” He could borrow one from the next homeless person to wander by.
- thechampaignlife - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 12:02 pm:
This is a serious issue, but I cannot take Marron seriously after watching his toddler rant video from May 7: https://www.facebook.com/RepMikeMarron/videos/993810604396445/
- Shemp - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 12:12 pm:
It shouldn’t be the federal government’s responsibility to help States run their agencies. Fact is numerous Illinois agencies, not just IDES, have been under-performing for years (yes, even before Rauner). DCEO still can’t get out grants promised at the beginning of Covid. Downstate Stabilization grants are being released at a crawl, many months after applications are received. BIG grants are behind schedule. I cringe using the word, but there are systemic issues in Illinois agencies. HFS medicaid redetermination cases are backlogged from March. We all know the frustrations at DCFS, IDOC and the amount of regulation and rules at IDOT and IEPA only serve to add time and costs to transportation and cleanup projects.
- SSL - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 12:23 pm:
They should reopen the offices at 50% capacity, or take similar steps. IDES should be deemed an essential service. It is ridiculous the level this has gotten to, and it sits squarely on the shoulders of the Governor. Right next to the Veterans home epic failure.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 12:31 pm:
This is a serious issue at this point and ranting about how everything was bare-bones is not going to convince people otherwise.
People realizing and dealing with how it appears to be harder to convince them not to send you (or some fraudster) money that it was for the fraudster to get it is going to be an issue in voters’ minds.
It was a pain for me, I can’t imagine dealing with this and having to do it all by phone with the state, hoping you are in a position to get the return call once it is made.
- BeenThereDoneThat - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 12:37 pm:
If this happened under Rauner, it’d be front page news every day. This is a disgrace.
- Anon2 - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 12:38 pm:
===We have implemented every solution at our disposal===
Hyperbole much?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 12:40 pm:
=== If this happened under Rauner, it’d be front page news every day.===
“Because media”?
Also, Rauner’s failures were the feature, not the bug, a wanted collapse.
There’s that too.
- Redbird Pundit - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 12:43 pm:
“Being in a super minority, he has time to wait…”
So Oswego Willy you are tell me that since he’s in the super minority he shouldn’t have his calls return??? This just shows how inept IDES is right now.. Two people in my family and I have been hit by these scams. Its no joking matter, even though you think it is.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 12:49 pm:
=== you are tell me that since he’s in the super minority he shouldn’t have his calls return?===
One question mark will do.
I’m mocking the super minority status.
=== Two people in my family and I have been hit by these scams. Its no joking matter, even though you think it is.===
As I said, above, your comment, I too have those effected by this. With a global pandemic causing a national crisis, and federal help is lacking to a state problem… me taking a jab at a grandstanding is not changing even those I know hurt by this.
- Just Do It - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 1:05 pm:
Marron isn’t a Raunerite. He didn’t serve during that era at all. By all accounts that I have ever heard anywhere, he is a thoughtful, traditional Republican frustrated that his constituents are suffering and the IDES situation continues to sputter at a glacial pace.
Good on him for caring enough to say “enough”.
- Success?? - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 1:09 pm:
Latest update says he talked to the director. I guess we know what it takes to get a call back now.
- Annoyed - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 1:36 pm:
I seriously can’t believe this. IDES has LL’s right? Why aren’t they contacting legislators with updates, and explain why it seems to the lay person that IDES is a complete mess. I mean, as mentioned above, a link to automatically cutoff fraudulent payments, how hard is that? And if it requires a fed waiver then get it. JB, focus on this! Or call whoever at KPMG is charging the state hundreds of dollars an hour and remove them. Your constituents deserve better.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 1:36 pm:
=== If this happened under Rauner, it’d be front page news every day.===
Yes. Governing in the middle of a pandemic is front page news. Seeing state agencies crumble under the pressure and weight of leaky roofs and failing foundations is also front page news. Who failed to support the basic structure of what government is?
- 618er - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 2:01 pm:
So the mindset of some is to mock him for reaching out to IDES on behalf of his constituents? Regardless of his party’s majority/super minority status, we’ve gotten to the point where the the response is, the offices are closed to the general public. Is he grandstanding,of course he is, but he’s still a sitting member of the House.
- SumGai1986 - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 2:08 pm:
==So the mindset of some is to mock him for reaching out to IDES on behalf of his constituents?==
You haven’t been here long, have you.
- Chito - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 2:27 pm:
Anonymous @2:26 was me
- Publius - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 2:29 pm:
I have asked around co-workers across the US and it seems Illinois did a lot better than other places. A lot of this goes back to unemployment was setup as being hard to get to encourage people to get a job. Also, the Feds wanted to push people to work during this time. Most other countries just directly paid people and didn’t make then sign up for unemployment. Everyone was getting $2000 a month in some countries. We could have but we did it this way which is much harder.
- Laura from 42 Ward - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 2:34 pm:
It’s sad that Illinois public finances are being run by faulty assumptions from the 2020 election.
Much of the establishment predicted a Democratic party blow out up and down the ballot, which was supposed to have given Democrats more strength in Congress for aid to states and local governments.
The respected Cook Report said there were 27 Congressional toss-ups. The Democrats didn’t win a single one.
In conclusion: Illinois now will not be getting needed revenue because of faulty assumptions . Just not enough voters believed Trump was a racist or something.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 2:43 pm:
“Is he grandstanding,of course he is,” Asked and answered.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 2:45 pm:
This is Marron, in April…
=== State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian is calling on Governor JB Pritzker to open regions of the state by ending his stay-at-home order. Marron in a message to his constituents says the governor’s refusal to acknowledge the economic damage the shutdown is inflicting on downstate communities is sad.
‘’After five weeks of quarantine, administration failures, and political shilling by the Democrat majority, I am now calling for all legislators to be called to action to discuss solutions,’’ said Marron.
Governor Priitzker explained Monday why he is opposed to opening certain sections of the state ahead of others.===
That “Democrat majority” business is pretty “thoughtful”
Ugh.
- HotSauce - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 4:19 pm:
IDES overpaid on some unemployment checks… and now they are asking for it back, while taking on a concerning amount of new unemployment cases. This is an absolute failure on the current administrations part, no real shock there though.
To Rep. Marron: it may be more beneficial to propose an actual plan to fix it, instead of standing in the cold posting on facebook.
- Frank talks - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 4:24 pm:
I’m glad the GOP isn’t taking the Hollywood route and they’re actually performing their own stunts.
- Just Do It - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 4:36 pm:
The bromance with Demmer and Barrickman is more fun Willy. When can we get back to that?
Marron got the Director to come out and talk to him. Good on him.
If you don’t like the Marron’s of the world, then you really don’t like any Republicans at all as he is about as reasonable as they come in the context of modern day R’s.
Can we get just one more Demmer beat down before the end of the day? Please . . . . .
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 4:41 pm:
=== Marron got the Director to come out and talk to him. Good on him.===
… by an embarrassing and pathetic stunt? That’s real sad to what Marron thinks to “getting things done.
=== If you don’t like the Marron’s of the world, then you really don’t like any Republicans at all as he is about as reasonable as they come in the context of modern day R’s.===
The Trunpkins?
The ones with alternative facts… think an election was stolen, yet have no proof, you means those folks… those who say “Democrat party” to appease the mouth breathers? Those folks?
They are part of a cult of personality, not part of a party of Lincoln.
=== Can we get just one more Demmer beat down before the end of the day? Please . . . . .===
I’ll let you go and keep beating yourself with your thinking …
- Just Do It - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 4:49 pm:
You don’t know anything at all about Marron, his view on Trump or anything else. Pure conjecture on your part.
He called the Director, Legislative Liaisons and everyone else under the sun hundreds of times with no action at all.
Just stop. If you don’t know what you are talking about . . . .don’t
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 4:52 pm:
===He called the Director, Legislative Liaisons and everyone else under the sun hundreds of times with no action at all===
The administration told me he did not make a single one of those calls.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 4:53 pm:
===Marron got the Director to come out===
I’d bet a buck the chief of staff saw it here.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 4:56 pm:
=== You don’t know anything at all about Marron, his view on Trump or anything else. Pure conjecture on your part.===
Dude, did ya read above?
=== === State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian is calling on Governor JB Pritzker to open regions of the state by ending his stay-at-home order. Marron in a message to his constituents says the governor’s refusal to acknowledge the economic damage the shutdown is inflicting on downstate communities is sad.
‘’After five weeks of quarantine, administration failures, and political shilling by the Democrat majority, I am now calling for all legislators to be called to action to discuss solutions,’’ said Marron.===
That sound like Dr. Fauci or Trump?
The “Democrat Party” nonsense was a nice touch too.
Oh… Rich handled the rest.
- Just Do It - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 4:56 pm:
=The administration told me he did not make a single one of those calls=
I was in his office one day when he made about 20 in a row. Going to go with my own eyes on this one.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 4:57 pm:
=== I was in his office one day when he made about 20 in a row. Going to go with my own eyes on this one.===
#AlternativeFacts
- Just Do It - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 4:58 pm:
=I’d bet a buck the chief of staff saw it here.=
Awesome, mission accomplished . . . .
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 4:59 pm:
=== Awesome, mission accomplished . . . .===
But you just said he called 20 times, LOL
So acting like a silly soul.., is good?
“Ok”
- Just Do It - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 5:00 pm:
=#AlternativeFacts=
Not sure what that even means. I would articulate it phonetically if I could in this forum . . . .I personally saw him make 20 of these calls in a row, and know for certain that he repeated that exercise incessantly.
You, as is sometimes the case with you Willy, were not there and do not know.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 5:02 pm:
=== were not there and do not know.===
So you’re saying the administration is not being truthful?
Why isn’t Marron?
I know why.
Marron is wasting time being a maroon
- Just Do It - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 5:06 pm:
I am saying that I am an eye witness. Can’t speak for anyone else.
A “maroon”? Maroon is a dark brownish red or dark reddish color. Not sure the public would get the gesture even if he were making it . . . . .
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 5:09 pm:
=== I am saying that I am an eye witness. Can’t speak for anyone else.===
LOL… you should as Marron why he won’t say what you say. I’d be mad at him.. I mean, you know and all.
=== A “maroon”?===
Some Easter eggs are best when they go over someone’s head.
:)
- Just Do It - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 5:13 pm:
Willy - I could go on slapping you around for the balance of the day. It is easy when you are literally pulling conjecture out of your hind side.
You are out over your ski’s here in a conversation with someone who knows the score chapter and verse. Step off.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 5:15 pm:
=== You are out over your ski’s here in a conversation with someone who knows the score chapter and verse. Step off.===
Why won’t Marron say what you said… and call out the administration?
That’s what a maroon does… ignores the obvious.
If I were you, boy, I’d be sore at Marron for not saying all you claim.
You read that Marron quote above, or you still looking up what a maroon is?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 5:19 pm:
=== The Representative could have saved himself some time in the cold if he would have reached out and asked to speak with the director.===
… or the legislative liaison.
Who exactly did he call… you said 20 calls…
- Just Do It - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 5:41 pm:
Slick Willy - a) your are too cute x 3. Of course I know what “maroon” means in the context you used it. My response was laughing not with you, but at you as that term hasn’t been used in like 5 decades as a put down. Maybe on old Andy Griffith episodes in black and white. Good one Barn . . .
2) What exactly were you expecting the Department to say? “Yes, the Representative, like dozens of others, has called our office incessantly, but because this has been going on for 10 months and is an unmitigated disaster, we stopped calling them back some time ago”.
Stop being such a Boy Scout. The wound is laid wide open and they should be owning it but it is simply too embarrassing.
Have a great evening . . . . .almost called you a “maroon”, but it really does date you . . .
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 5:48 pm:
=== Slick Willy===
This is starting out swimmingly, lol
=== Of course I know what “maroon” means in the context you used it. ===
Then why deny it? Another alternative fact, or…
== like 5 decades as a put down. Maybe on old Andy Griffith episodes in black and white. Good one Barn . . ===
So.. you knew, pretended you didn’t, then decide to ridicule because it makes ya look silly that it went over your head? That’s Trumpian type of gymnastics.
=== What exactly were you expecting the Department to say? “Yes, the Representative, like dozens of others, has called our office incessantly, but because this has been going on for 10 months and is an unmitigated disaster, we stopped calling them back some time ago”.===
So your denial… is predicated… on this idea that they are calling out Marron for not reaching out… as, again, not truthful.
Why won’t Marron call the bluff?
Too busy being a maroon on the insta-chatter? Exactly.
=== Stop being such a Boy Scout. The wound is laid wide open and they should be owning it but it is simply too embarrassing.===
What day and time were these 20 calls.. that’s 20 calls… made.
Why won’t Marron give that info?
You know the date and time… you know…
- Just Do It - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 6:14 pm:
My deepest apologies for ever engaging with you.
You are a sad little man.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 6:16 pm:
=== My deepest apologies for ever engaging with you.===
So.. what date and time were those calls?
- Chicagonk - Tuesday, Dec 15, 20 @ 6:49 pm:
Jordan’s flippant comment is not helpful to the thousands of other frustrated people with IDES. I wonder if she has something to say to them?
- State of DenIL - Wednesday, Dec 16, 20 @ 2:23 pm:
Is Rep. Marron going to be contacting and urging Rep. Shimkus to vote for federal relief to states? A Republican voice on this issue could be politically very powerful to help get that moving. Otherwise he’s demanding a lot from a hollowed-out agency with old technology, a shrinking workforce, and the largest demands in the history of unemployment insurance. Until he is willing to stand up and speak loudly, it is just a stunt.