Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

House Republicans slam Pritzker’s IDES response, claim lack of communication, even arrogance with legislators

Posted in:

Illinois

* What follows are some highlights from House Republican Leader Jim Durkin’s press conference. Remember to pardon all transcription errors. This is from Durkin’s opening statement…

Every day, my office and my colleagues’ offices, democrat and republican, are inundated with calls and emails asking for help in filing for unemployment. These are people desperately asking for help, telling me they can afford to pay their rent, buy their groceries to the family.

These Illinoisans are desperate. They are frightened, which explains why the Illinois State Police were brought in to provide security for the Illinois Department of Employment Security employees. Those employees are working hard. They’re doing everything they can do. But clearly, the demand continues to exceed the manpower at IDES.

He then read three emails from frustrated constituents who could not get through to IDES and continued…

I know these are unprecedented times. But it has been over three weeks since bars and restaurants were forced to close in Illinois, leading to mass layoffs. … (M)ore residents of Illinois will be laid off or fired. And they will be seeking government assistance through unemployment.

Within the last two weeks I’ve sent the governor two, or more, requests, asking him to bring in an outside firm or to redeploy employees from other agencies to fix this problems. Those requests have gone unanswered.

This is not acceptable. We have co-equal branches of government. We were elected, I was elected to represent the best interest of our constituents, and I feel that my responsibility goes beyond the 82nd District.

And today we are demanding on behalf of Illinois that this program with unemployment insurance, be fixed immediately, so that those struggling Illinoisans can get the relief they desperately need during these trying times.

* Rep. Grant Wehrli spoke next…

It is time for this governor to step up and fix the problems with IDES and not just complain about things at the federal level. This is 100% under his control. We need these solutions now. We’re here to work collaboratively with him if there’s things that we can do legislatively that he needs we’re here to help, but to simply just defer this as a federal problem, and not address it is just unacceptable.

I did bring this to the attention of the governor’s office where I was basically told to go away. They did not want to address this and they did not want to hear from a legislator on this topic and that’s unfortunate.

* Rep. Mike Marron…

A few months ago no one could have predicted how the coronavirus was going to ravage our state. But once it got here, it became apparent that a stay at home order was going to be a reality. Prior to that happening IDES’ system should have been advanced to accommodate for the large influx in applicants that the order was going to create.

* On to questions. The governor has blamed many of these problems and outdated computer systems that weren’t built to handle this level of demand. Is this the result of failure to upgrade technology across state government over many years?…

Durkin: This is not about rear-view mirror politics. We shouldn’t go back and point fingers at previous administrations. This administration’s been working for the past year and a half. They have the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and their job is to predict, to ensure that the state of Illinois is prepared, and they have vision, to be able to prepare themselves for any man made or natural catastrophe. So, this is the administration’s responsibility to be able to ensure that we have a computer systems in place that are able to address every possible problem that the state could encounter. Maybe it is maybe it’s a problem but the fact is, it should get done, it should have been done. That is why we have, as I said earlier, we have an agency that is responsible for ensuring that state of Illinois is prepared for the worst circumstances.

* Can the shifting of personnel that the House Republicans propose be done immediately or would it take time for the shift? And what about training?…

Wehrli: That’d be a question for the administration, to be honest with you. But we’re three weeks into this and they haven’t even taken step one to even look at this as a possibility. So, I understand that they have many things on their plate right now, but this is an issue that they should have started addressing weeks ago and not just rely on suggestions from the legislators who are hearing of these problems on a daily basis.

* Rep. Wehrli was asked who in the administration told him to ‘go away’?…

I’m not prepared at this point in time to name names, but it was very disheartening when a member of a co-equal branch of government reaches out to try to get some solutions going, and the direct quote was ‘Get a life.’

That’s unacceptable. I understand that they’re in a high stress situation right now. But we need solutions, not name calling and basically just disregarding a member of a co-equal branch of government that’s inappropriate.

* The governor just put out information that IDES staff had worked 6500 hours of overtime. They’ve upgraded the website and they’ve expanded call center capacity. How much more can they do?…

Durkin: I just saw that release about 15 minutes before this press conference. And I find it really ironic that this is the response that I get from the administration, after sending in two letters to the governor, his chief of staff within the last two weeks. That’s great, but we have to do more. That’s it.

* Beyond writing letters, what more can the legislature do to assert its power as co-equal in managing the crisis?…

Durkin: If the governor is going to in the month of May. If he decides that he is going to extend the executive order. I will say that it’s, it’s appropriate to have the legislative leaders involved with that executive order to see if modifications should be made based on where we are at with the health and safety, Illinois, because we can’t lose sight over the fact of what’s happened to our economy. We have to be able to do everything we can to reduce the number of elements who are contracting COVID, but we also have to reduce the amount of individuals who are filing for unemployment.

* Has there been any talk of the General Assembly reconvening? … What communication have you had with Speaker Madigan?…

Durkin: There’s been talk but we have no idea when we’re going to return to session. People have speculated maybe in May we may go into June.

I have had communications with a speaker. I can’t count how many times we have, but it’s been around administrative issues. … I told the speaker that it was important that we reconvene some working groups to discuss important state issues that we anticipate that will come up during the time in which we return. … And I’m pleased that the speaker has taken up my offer, and we will begin [the working groups process] shortly.

* Do you foresee problems with labor agreements and shifting employees to facilitate the shifting from one agency to another?…

Durkin: I guess that’s between AFSCME and also the administration. But I just want to re emphasize that Illinois with the stroke of a pen was able to shut down private business, which we did. The administration should be able to work through quickly under the emergency powers in which the governor has exercised, with labor agreements to reposition state employees from other agencies into the Department of Employment Security for a temporary period of time.

* Is May 11 an acceptable timeline for these 1099 workers to begin receiving benefits?…

Durkin: No, I think May 11 is too long for the gig economy people. Those people need money just like everybody else to pay their bills and take care of their families, things like that, so that’s that’s not acceptable to me. But at least it’s a timeline to start with.

* When will we know the fiscal impact?…

Durkin: I think that we’ll find out probably within the next two weeks of what the Office of budget and management numbers will have for us. We are going to see a significant, significant drop off of revenues. I could predict that with some certainty. … I imagine that the state will be not millions but billions of dollars in the hole when it’s all said and done over the next month and a half. But until we receive numbers back from the administration, I’m not going to put a specific dollar amount into place other than the fact that, like every other state, we will be running behind.

* Downstate residents feel no one is looking out for them on unemployment and testing for COVID-19. What should be done to spread the wealth from Chicago? [The question was from a Quincy TV reporter]…

Michael T. Marron: Well, I would agree with the question. I get that feedback from a lot of constituents, and it doesn’t help. When you have a problem like this, or, you know, a lot of the other departments have been non responsive as well when we’re trying to get answers from people as to whether businesses qualify for the exemption under the executive order, it’s been frustrating.

I think one thing that Governor could do, it’s largely optics, but I think he could think about holding a press conference from somewhere other than the city of Chicago. I mean I understand that Chicago’s a very critically important part of the state. I love the city, but the Capitol is Springfield and I think people in my district, and what find it offensive that every day his press conferences are from the Thompson center, instead of from his office in Springfield. Those are just small things that I think people downstate. I think they take over to and it’s understandable.

And I do feel like, you know, the circumstances are somewhat different for us down here. Because the population density is smaller we haven’t seen the numbers, although I have largely supported the governor and the actions that he’s taken to keep us safe. I do think that he could listen to us a little bit better, those of us that represent downstate and he could have a better presence down here definitely that would improve things a lot I feel

-30-

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 12:57 pm

Comments

Republicans suddenly find compassion for working families. Strange times.

Comment by Former Downstater Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:05 pm
Well, I guess here come the cracks in the bipartisanship. This comment from Durkin was especially interesting:

” If he decides that he is going to extend the executive order. I will say that it’s, it’s appropriate to have the legislative leaders involved with that executive order to see if modifications should be made based on where we are at with the health and safety, Illinois, because we can’t lose sight over the fact of what’s happened to our academy.”

I’m assuming that last word should have been economy. Anyway, sounds to me like Durkin would be in favor of potentially trying to overtun an Executive Order from the Governor. And there’s that “economy over everything” argument. I guess Durkin is starting to buy into that.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:08 pm
== Rep. Wehrli was asked who in the administration told him to ‘go away’?…==

This should be done by everyone, whether they work in the administration or not

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:10 pm
A state government that has been starved of resources for years coupled with a federal government that purposely suppressed information on the seriousness of the situation. What could possibly go wrong?

Comment by Pundent Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:13 pm
Thanks, Demoralized. Fixed. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:13 pm
=== That’s unacceptable. I understand that they’re in a high stress situation right now. But we need solutions, not name calling and basically just disregarding a member of a co-equal branch of government that’s inappropriate.===

Mr. Wehrli trolling himself is tough to ignore.

I would be interested in who told him to “get a life”

The whole conversation would be an interesting look for all sides.

To the Post,

Slamming IDES is not only reasonable, but honest to the real time problems they are having. While unprecedented, the level of computer dysfunction is quite high, and that’s me being generous. Also, Illinois is not the only state with this problem, but that doesn’t help the Illinoisans facing the problem, or help those Illinoisans now.

So many things were wrong before this crisis, and this crisis has now highlighted the glaring and most damaging problems that can hurt the most in need.

In that light, I have no problem with Leader Durkin talking and discussing constituent stories and issues.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:14 pm
Winkin’, Binkin’ & Nod really excelled this time. Some thought they would volunteer staff to help IDES. NOPE
We should note they also opted to play voter suppression and lonely downstate abandoned card. Not much of a performance.

Comment by Annonin Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:14 pm
===“If he decides that he is going to extend the executive order. I will say that it’s, it’s appropriate to have the legislative leaders involved with that executive order to see if modifications should be made based on where we are at with the health and safety, Illinois, because we can’t lose sight over the fact of what’s happened to our economy.”

- Demoralized- is all over this grab. Good stuff.

I dunno if the legislative leaders want their name to any decision like that… that will decide what is or is not open.

It’s probably disingenuous, and can only be thoughtful if Leader Durkin allows the science to dictate a decision.

Anything less than that is Leader Durkin, or other legislative leaders, advocating for “economy over lives”

Nothing will be no Trumpian than being a vocal advocate that the economy is more important than lives lost.

Walking away from “asking” to give input before might be a better idea.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:20 pm
Just a few years ago there was an unemployment office in easy driving distance of all the small towns in Southern Illinois. Now if you need to appear in person it is an 80-mile drive from where I live to Mt. Vernon Il. When you get there they place you in front of a computer monitor and give you almost no direction. It is time to open offices and staff them with people that can help.

Comment by Nieva Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:22 pm
== it’s appropriate to have the legislative leaders involved with that executive order==

I will also note that he seems to be unclear on the concept of an Executive Order. It’s called an Executive Order because it comes from the Executive and to my knowledge Executives don’t generally consult with the Legislature when issuing those things.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:25 pm
Hey Wehrli, you love tech so much (based on your constant tweeting), why don’t you volunteer to help code for IDES?

Comment by Annoyed Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:27 pm
===We’re here to work collaboratively with him if there’s things that we can do legislatively that he needs we’re here to help===

For some reason, I cannot find the appropriations bill that Rep. Wehrli introduced to provide the funding for the IDES computer upgrade. Surely he must of done so before pontificating like that.

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:29 pm
Durkin’s response to the past years question is gold. “It’s not the time to point the finger at systemic problems that have been ongoing for my entire career [and yes others as well], it’s time to point the finger at Pritzker.”

Idk what has or hasn’t been done, or what failures of communication there have been, but this comes across as a partisan smear and theatrical bellowing and table pounding.

JB’s been pressed about IDES just about every day at the press briefing, as well as fielding legislator questions. More heat to the fire isn’t effective. This isn’t effective.

Comment by Perrid Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:37 pm
How ironic the Illinois GOP are criticizing Pritzker for IDES issues when the stated goal of the Republican Party (or at least the Illinois Policy Institute part) is to abolish the “administrative state” and/or “drown the government in a bathtub.

As Rich has mentioned it is the “hollowing out of the state and federal government. It is not just Illinois. There are many underfunded state agencies overwhelmed by unemployment claims. Anybody see the photos on the internet of people waiting in long lines for paper unemployment applications?

And what about all the people who do not have broadband access, a computer, are computer illiterate, etc. What are they supposed to do?

What OW said:

“Slamming IDES is not only reasonable, but honest to the real time problems they are having. While unprecedented, the level of computer dysfunction is quite high, and that’s me being generous.

So many things were wrong before this crisis, and this crisis has now highlighted the glaring and most damaging problems that can hurt the most in need.

In that light, I have no problem with Leader Durkin talking and discussing constituent stories and issues.”

Lastly, while the the ILGOP can be blamed for crying wolf when IMO there anti govt views are part of the probem, at this point Governors own it and Pritzker need to address the IDES issues.

Comment by Big Jer Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:37 pm
For those of you correcting Hon. Wehrli over the lack of appropriations for IDES, I do believe the Dems have controlled that process for more than a decade or two?

Comment by Wylie Coyote Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:37 pm
To quote Mr Durkin “This is not about rear-view mirror politics. We shouldn’t go back and point fingers at previous administrations. This administration has been working for the last year and a half.”
How about holding your own party’s administration in DC - which has been on the job for over 3 years to the same standard.

Comment by train111 Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:43 pm
- Wylie Coyote -

How many other General Assemblies and a partisans refused to give Illinois a budget?

The Raunerites’ destruction, purposeful as it was, it had never been matched.

FYI

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:44 pm
My eyes are tired from trying to follow which side of his mouth Wehrli was talking out of. Oddly, he feels the governor should listen to him Monday morning quarterback on big ideas about the fact that things need to be fixed, but when it comes to he specifics of how to fix the problems, “that’s between (insert name here) and the administration.” This is why the Republican Party doesn’t deserve a seat at the big kids’ table.

Comment by Travel Guy Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:46 pm
I agree that the problem needs to be fixed ASAP, lives are at stake. It’s on the governor to do it.

The argument that we don’t need to look back is a self-serving one.

Don’t need to look back at how the hollowing out of state government by Rauner (cheered by Werhli, abetted by Durkin) left us with all kinds of ticking time bombs? Rauner wrecked havoc for 4 years and it’s all supposed to have been fixed by Pritzker in little more than one?

Don’t look back on the Trump administration malfeasance that’s already caused so many preventable deaths and led to the economic catastrophe that overwhelmed the unemployment system?

Sure, Jan.

How could we possibly keep any of this from happening again if we don’t understand and document why it happened in the first place?

Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:47 pm
Illinois GOP complaining about government not working well while actively working to undermine government and prevent it from working well.

A press conference convened by Irony itself.

Comment by Left Leaner Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:52 pm
When I saw Wherli’s quotes I had to check and make sure that today wasn’t April Fool’s day. He is such a hypocrite and failure.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 1:56 pm
So let me see if I have this right. Durkin facilitated Rauner’s hollowing out of government for four years. During that time, Rauner declined to move forward on plans to improve the IDES system. Durkin didn’t object. Now that it’s hitting the fan, Durkin and his fellow helpful folks are trying to blame this on Pritzker.

Got it.

And he complains that the gov hasn’t brought in someone from the outside to deal with this even though he has - golly that seems like a pretty big untruth.

Got it.

And this is how the GOP finds relevance again?

Got it.

Yo Jim, here’s a tip for you. The only thing anyone wants to hear is “how can I help.” This is not helping.

Comment by Southern Skeptic Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 2:01 pm
@OW

===How many other General Assemblies and a partisans refused to give Illinois a budget?===

This IDES crisis has very little to do with the Rauner administration and past budget impasses. The only potential Rauner budget crisis tie in would be no money to upgrade computers. But again it was Rauner that was upgrading technology where prior administrations did not. The last major UI rewrite was in like 2011 or 2013 and made the system solvent after the last recession.

Comment by Nagidam Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 2:05 pm
Sure there are problems. Nobody could have predicted the onslaught of unemployment claims and the ability to process them. That being said, JB never has a problem blasting away at the federal government for deficiencies. Maybe all sides should take a breath and work together. When this is over we can all reassess what works, what doesn’t and how to move forward. We can only do what we can do. We can’t just snap our fingers and make things appear or work better when it will take time. I get the frustration but it’s time for leaders to fix problems not point fingers

Comment by Left Right Center Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 2:07 pm
- Nagidam -

Point taken, and also see my previous comment as well.

All good. Note both.

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 2:10 pm
“This is not about rear-view mirror politics. We shouldn’t go back and point fingers at previous administrations. This administration’s been working for the past year and a half. They have the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and their job is to predict, to ensure that the state of Illinois is prepared, and they have vision, to be able to prepare themselves for any man made or natural catastrophe.”

Someone please send this comment to the Biden Campaign. Apparently, You can’t blame the prior administration after it’s been 1 1/2 years into a new administration.

Comment by Consultant101 Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 2:11 pm
==This IDES crisis has very little to do with the Rauner administration and past budget impasses. ==

Really? Durkin pretty much admits that it does “Durkin: This is not about rear-view mirror politics. We shouldn’t go back and point fingers at previous administrations. This administration’s been working for the past year and a half.” He just thinks the Pritzker folks should have fixed it over the last 15 months.

The current crisis is really three big problems. 1)The Rauner admin left a lot of agencies (including IDES) in a pretty bad position to do their work. From lack of personnel to a bad IT system, they trashed the agencies. 2) This is so big, it hard to imagine anyone could have prepared for it. (More than a year’s worth of apps in 3 weeks.) 3) The feds have been slow rolling out the rules the states need to implement.

Adding a bunch of new people in need of training probably won’t help…

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 2:20 pm
===Point taken, and also see my previous comment as well.===

Certainly the present administration has done some great things in this crisis over all. I personally give the Administration and his staff an A. I agree with you on the shortcomings of IDES though. Maybe I missed it but it surprises me I haven’t seen more democrats up in arms over the shortfalls in IDES. In UI half the equation is business and half the equation is labor. Maybe because most unions are still working the UI crisis has not hit them as hard.

Comment by Nagidam Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 2:20 pm
“So, this is the administration’s responsibility to be able to ensure that we have a computer systems in place that are able to address every possible problem that the state could encounter.”

I have no words for the dishonesty of this statement, given the perpetual lack of GOP support for sufficient revenue to run government. But I guess these three have seen the light and will be voting “yes” for the fair tax then?

Comment by Jibba Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 2:21 pm
With all due respect, now is not the time to have the Gov road tripping around the state to hold his press conferences.

We’re trying to get everyone to stay at home as much as possible.

Comment by Titan Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 2:23 pm
===I have no words for the dishonesty of this statement, given the perpetual lack of GOP support for sufficient revenue to run government.===

I don’t want to discount the damage the Rauner years did in hollowing our state government but you cant blame every shortcoming in government for something that took place 2 or 3 years ago. Budgets have been passed and recovery has started. What I have seen is an expansion of lots of programs with education and healthcare taking the lion share of dollars. To make the above statement correct we would have to see what budgets/expenditures were submitted to upgrade computer technology over the years. I can guarantee that upgrading computer technology has not been a priority over education and healthcare.

Comment by Nagidam Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 2:32 pm
I think Durkin’s statements are fair–I’m not sure anyone could have done better, but the Governor is the Governor.

And the leaders probably should have input on extending the order, but as OW said, do they really want to? Given how long this is likely to last legislative input seems prudent and right.

Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 3:07 pm
= I can guarantee that upgrading computer technology has not been a priority over education and healthcare.=

We’ve also been at full employment for some time now. With all of the other fiscal problems of this state I wouldn’t have expected either party to say this is the time to invest in our IDES infrastructure.

Comment by Pundent Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 3:08 pm
When Rauner was in office most on this blog parroted “Governors own” but now it’s a budget/spend/who could have seen this coming response? Please. JB’s overpaid team should have been releasing weeks ago what they released today. They dropped the ball and now those who really need some $$$ are still waiting.

Comment by Flat Bed Ford Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 3:27 pm
===With all of the other fiscal problems of this state I wouldn’t have expected either party to say this is the time to invest in our IDES infrastructure.===

Well the Democratic Party has been saying pre-pandemic the economy was heading to a recession. If they truly believed what they were publicly saying then indeed this was the prefect time to invest in IDES infrastructure.

Comment by Nagidam Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 3:37 pm
===but now===

For the love of Pete, IDES is an agency under the governor and is responsible for how it performs.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 3:50 pm
IL GOP Desperately Seeking Relevancy

Comment by VerySmallRocks Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 5:31 pm
Does this mean that the House Republican Caucus will be supporting the upcoming budget? Since they have complained about IT needs (how outdated the system is) does this mean they will support the fair tax, which would ensure needed revenues for the issues that they are complaining about?

Comment by {Sigh} Monday, Apr 13, 20 @ 6:24 pm
Settle down, folks. Size 56 short has everything under control.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 14, 20 @ 6:23 am
@Titan

Dear Sir/Madam,

As I don’t know you, I’m not certain if your statement regarding the Governor’s daily presser is made from a lack of information about them, or if you’re being deliberately obtuse in an attempt to troll everyone else here.

The Governor’s daily presser is held in Chicago, where he has a home, and where our state’s largest media market is.

They are held at the Thompson Center, a state building, and within the previous week the Governor commented that all who enter the Thompson Center have their temperature checked before they enter the building.

Next time, try harder.

Signed,

A political junkie

Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Apr 14, 20 @ 9:50 am