Rockford Sun

State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) is pushing Gov. J.B. Pritzker to do what he sees as the right thing when it comes to addressing some of the state’s most recent debts.

“We have pushed the governor to shore up the unemployment trust fund’s $4.2 billion deficit with the COVID $8 billion sent to us from DC,” Keicher posted on Facebook. “The unemployment issues are specifically COVID related and an authorized expense. He’s chosen not to do that and we have the money just sitting there … that’s not ownership of the problem.”

Illinois is one of 10 states on the hook for a combined $45 billion that were borrowed from the government to cover rising unemployment benefits during the height of the pandemic.

The loans began accruing interest on Sept. 6. Route-50.com reports that unpaid loans could lead to significant tax hikes on employers as soon as next year.

States are allowed to take out such loans from the Treasury Department when they exhaust their unemployment trust funds. In all, 22 states took out what are known as Title XII advances in 2020. While the loans were initially interest free, starting Sept. 6, states with outstanding balances began to accrue interest at a rate of 2.3%

Joining Illinois on the list of states still owing are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas,

Keicher has also called out the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) over what he argued was a lack of service during the pandemic.

“Illinoisans are still facing unacceptable wait times with IDES and are now being hung up on by the very people who are supposed to help them through the unemployment process,” he posted to Facebook. “The administration has to be held accountable for these ongoing failures and provide real solutions for the people of Illinois.”