Metro East Sun

With so many residents desperately in need of assistance as the effects of the lingering coronavirus continues to be felt, newly-elected state Rep. David Friess (R-Red Bud) wants to see the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) to do the job it was constructed to do, he says. 

“IDES has failed too many Illinoisans and continues to have an unacceptable lag in helping people who need it,” Friess told the Metro East Sun. “The governor's administration must promptly and thoroughly investigate the rising number of unemployment fraud claims across the state.”

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) is now investigating more than 212,000 questionable claims, with many of them targeting individuals that rated as their companies highest earners.

Illinois is taking a huge economic hit as result of the pandemic | File Photo

With Illinois having issued more than $17 billion in unemployment assistance since the beginning of the pandemic, IDES' Rebecca Cisco claims much of the potential fraud can be blamed on data breaches outside the confines of the agency.

Friess isn’t interesting in excuses, and just wants to see state official do the job he insists all state residents deserve and are entitled to.

“IDES needs to get to the bottom of any breach of its system and institute safeguards to ensure unemployed residents can receive help quickly and securely,” Friess said.

Friess, who won with nearly 65% of the vote against Democratic incumbent Nathan Reitz last month in the 116th District, has long been a vocal critic of the state’s handling of the pandemic, especially Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and the restrictions that he'’ put in place limiting small businesses.

“Small businesses have certainly taken the economic brunt of the restrictions,” Friess said. “Entrepreneurs invest their sweat equity, and sometimes their life savings, into their small businesses as they work to achieve their American dream. It is difficult to watch those businesses falter after such a strong national economic surge.”