Rockford Sun

State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) is intent on putting an end to what he sees as Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s crippling mismanagement.

"I'm calling for a complete audit of Governor Pritzker’s management of the state’s unemployment program following the release of a financial audit of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)," Syverson said in a post to Facebook. "For months, my Republican colleagues and I have been urging the governor to take action, reopen IDES and address the issues with Illinois’ unemployment benefits system. After all, it was because of his statewide shutdowns that so many citizens had to turn to the unemployment system to begin with, but our calls have gone unanswered.”

The Illinois Auditor report alluded to by Syverson also calls for a full examination of the system under Pritzker’s direction. Among other primary concerns raised in the report is the way researchers view the administration’s shortcomings when it comes to the handling of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program.

The report also points to instances where the administration neglected to confirm the identities of nearly 5,000 claimants before paying out some $41,697.272 to them along with benefits to dozens of deceased individuals.

More than a year ago, the federal government suggested that the state institute more fraud-prevention tools, but Republican lawmakers say the Pritzker administration did not to take action.

Syverson isn’t the only GOP lawmaker speaking out. Fellow state Sen. Terri Bryant recently charged "under the failed leadership of Gov. Pritzker the unemployment benefit system, which is designed to help Illinoisans in need, has now turned countless citizens into victims.”

Bryant previously sponsored Senate Bill 113, which calls on the Auditor General to conduct a full audit of IDES and the unemployment benefits system.