Rockford Sun

A recent Bloomberg News report highlighted the significant increase in migrants heading to Illinois, with a staggering 821 percent rise in the number of migrants listing an Illinois address from 2021 to 2023. Governor JB Pritzker's administration has been heavily focused on providing services for migrants, aiming to make Illinois the "Most Welcoming State in the Nation" for non-citizens. State Senator Dave Syverson expressed concerns about the Governor's priorities, urging a shift towards programs benefiting Illinois citizens.

The Legislative Audit Commission recently criticized the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's handling of the Business Interruption Grant Program, where $11 million was paid out to ineligible participants due to discrepancies in eligibility criteria. The decision to hire outside vendors to distribute funds raised questions, especially when it was revealed that a vendor had made a campaign donation to a key administrator. Despite an internal investigation, the Office of Executive Inspector General found no conflict of interest.

As tax season unfolds, the Illinois Comptroller's Office issued a warning about an increase in scammer activity targeting residents. The office advised vigilance against fraudulent IRS communications demanding payments through wire transfers or gift cards, emphasizing that the IRS does not contact individuals via email, text, or phone for owed taxes. Illinoisans were also cautioned about scams targeting college faculty and students, as well as fraudulent unclaimed tax refund schemes.

While Governor Pritzker highlighted job creation in certain industries in his Budget Address, Illinois continues to grapple with the nation's third-highest unemployment rate, with almost 5 percent of the state's workforce unemployed. Despite some job gains in specific sectors, Illinois has lagged in overall job growth, with significant job losses in the business and professional sector. The state's ongoing struggle with unemployment has been exacerbated by a consistent outflow of residents, with over 32,000 residents leaving the state last year alone.

Senator Syverson emphasized the need for policies that support employers and employees while incentivizing economic development to address Illinois' unemployment challenges.