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Pritzker administration pushes back against GOP legislator’s cover-up claim: “Conspiracy theories serve absolutely no purpose”

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A St. Clair County woman has sued the consulting company behind the recent data breach in Illinois’ unemployment system. Now, a Southern Illinois lawmaker says there may be more lawsuits coming.

Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) hopes the case against Deloitte will shed light on issues within the Illinois Department of Employment Security. […]

The department alerted 32,483 claimants possibly affected “out of abundance of caution.” However, Bryant explains several people have called her office to report their private information was compromised.

“I want IDES to stop saying that it was only one person and start telling us the truth,” Bryant said. “Until that happens, I’m not going to believe one word that comes out of the mouth of any official at IDES no matter how good or honest that individual is.”

Bryant says someone must be covering up a larger data breach, because some people applying through the state’s normal unemployment system have seen their social security number stolen. Deloitte is facing lawsuits from people impacted by a similar data breach in Ohio.

The downstate Republican says Gov. JB Pritzker has to react as soon as possible. “I do think the governor has been insulated by many of the staff he has, but I’m not sure. I would like to think that they’re not telling him everything and that he’s maybe not understanding some of what’s going on in his own administration. I’d like to believe that,” Bryant exclaimed. “But then, the other part of me says you’re the CEO of the state. You should know what’s going on.”

* I asked the governor’s office for a response. Here’s Jordan Abudayyeh…

There is no evidence there has been a larger data breach at IDES and the department has publicly shared all information available to us on this breach. If the Representative has more information on a data breach she should share it with the proper authorities, but conspiracy theories serve absolutely no purpose.

The administration appreciates the lawmakers who voted for the FY21 budget to increase funding for IDES to hire more employees to do the incredibly important work they do. Unfortunately, Rep. Bryant wasn’t one of them. The Governor has given multiple public briefings on the work at IDES and is updated on progress at the agency multiple times a week. If the Representative would like to do more to help the people she serves, I respectfully suggest that she work to provide sufficient resources to state agencies that were hollowed out and hobbled under the last administration, with her support. Cheap shots in the press and baseless conspiracy theories are not a substitute for leadership.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 12:50 pm

Comments

IDES has done little to engender faith during the COVID crisis. Yes, they were dealt a terrible hand, but their continued struggles are no longer excusable. So while I’m loathed to buy into an conspiracy theory, I’m also skeptical of anything IDES says.

Comment by Roman Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 12:59 pm
I pray this issue gets resolved. this is exactly the single issue that could propel terri bryant into running for governor for the gop.

Comment by iggy Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 1:00 pm
=== propel terri bryant===

Terri Bryant running and winning the GOP nomination for governor is “on brand” for the Raunerites/Trumpkins ruining the party so badly.

If anything, Bryant securing the nomination helps block out those who wholly helped Rauner’s attempt to destroy Illinois, continuing the marginalizing of these folks in politics unhelpful to Illinois.

If the ILGOP can’t figure out why they’re where they are by 2022, it deserves Bryant as the nominee and all that will mean in sinking the party and the ticket to start over.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 1:04 pm
Until you remove Deloitte from the equation, you will never stop problems with any system this company manages.

Comment by Marcus Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 1:15 pm
=Propel Terri Bryant into running for Governor=

Nothing in the original post suggests anything about Rep. Bryant running for Governor. Certainly not any commentary by Rep. Bryant, and most certainly it has zero to do with Bruce Rauner, of all people. Focus . . . . .

The entire discussion is about citizens information being compromised in yet another IDES glitch in what has been an awful year for them.

All other commentary is literally made up blather.

Comment by Upon Further Review Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 1:54 pm
=== most certainly it has zero to do with Bruce Rauner, of all people. Focus . . . . .===

… and yet it was the Pritzker Administration itself that said…

=== If the Representative would like to do more to help the people she serves, I respectfully suggest that she work to provide sufficient resources to state agencies that were hollowed out and hobbled under the last administration, with her support.===

So there’s the Rauner thingy…

I found it interesting with that angle by the current administration, and Bryant’s complicity in hurting Illinois, a run for Governor and choosing this angle… during a pandemic… and now Bryant’s need it appears with a functioning state agency… how could Bryant parlay that… politically.

The Pritzker administration made it about, well, the politics to agency work… and contracts I guess

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 2:04 pm
Also, the notion that “she didn’t vote for the budget”, hence she is of no assistance is a very odd response.

Utilizing that logic, every governmental screw up is allowable/excusable if you were on the wrong side of the budget debate. Where does competence figure into this equation?

You have set the bar considerably higher than this weak sauce response Governor.

Comment by Upon Further Review Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 2:08 pm
Bryant voted to break the impasse…as a 2nd term Rep. and target…in defiance of Rauner. She got primaried by Proft for it and won. What part of Bryant is Raunerite?

Comment by Willy forgets Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 2:35 pm
There’s issues with D&T. Imagine that? Any civil servant not in upper management levels would tell you the same.

Comment by low level Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 2:36 pm
Gov’s office better not dismiss this so quick, those of us that have had to work with Deloitte on these big IT projects know better.

Comment by LTSW Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 3:08 pm
“she got primaried for by Proft”

Bryant had about as much a chance of losing that primary as Trump did winning Illinois.
Bryant plays right into the southern Illinois mantra-Chicago/Madigan/big government bad/ILGOP/small government good.

The rubes down here eat it up.

Meanwhile, she enjoys her SERS pension, and one day, her GARS.
She was in no danger breaking with Rauner..

Comment by efudd Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 3:31 pm
=== Bryant voted to break the impasse…===

LOL, I didn’t forget. This makes her an even bigger phony than originally thought.

I try to just call it as it was…

…but if you call being a hostage taker for an entire General Assembly but releasing the hostage a hero… lol

“Sure, I held them hostage, but I let them free… you’re welcome”

I’m sure WIU during the years Bryant continually voted to purposely hurt WIU is Bryant “championing” the independence of Rauner too.

Proft’s motives? They’re Proft’s motives, dunno if that’s a strong measure.

Oh.

I didn’t forget.

Bryant was such a weak member of the GA, the switch was owned by Rauner hurting her district.

That’s who she is too… even being part of helping release the hostage she purposely helped hold.

Should we talk about her quotes about her constituents, that was enlightening too.

Bryant should proudly talk about the hostage taking. I have the receipts.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 3:44 pm
SIU… my fingers went up to the “W”

My apologies.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 4:01 pm
Bryant’s Raunerite credentials aside, this kind of fits with the national gop strategy. Every news cycle occurrence is a conspiracy theory of some sort. They aren’t regular people protesting injustice, they are “radical left antifa paid by George Soros”; he or she isn’t a long-time career government official who recognizes unethical behavior, they’re a “swamp-creature who hates trump and probably voted for hillary”; it’s not an unintended technical glitch by a vendor, it “must be a vast data breach” that is being covered up by aides in the govs office. Why delve into the minutiae of a problem when your voters prefer a simple response that tickles their grievance-bone?

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 4:06 pm
Correlation and causation, and all that. Something like a million Illinoisans filed for unemployment since Covid started. A few of them having their identity stolen doesn’t mean it came from IDES. And that’s assuming Bryant is being on the up and up, which, … yeah.

Comment by Perrid Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 4:10 pm
Willy - Leader Durkin was carrying the Rauner water his entire term AND voted “no” on the budget that ultimately passed. I don’t see the same vigor in cutting him up routinely like you do some of those who actually did show courage and broke away to end the fiasco.

You actually go out of your way to compliment Durkin. Double standard?

Comment by On Point Monday, Jun 22, 20 @ 4:39 pm