September 2, 2020 – The state is applying to get Illinoisans out of a job a temporary $300 boost in unemployment benefits. While making the request, the Pritzker administration criticized the White House. The Governor announced this week that Illinois is going to apply for FEMA funding to cover a boost in unemployment insurance. Pritzker stated that the program will create needless competition among states and will sow confusion. He also added that beneficiaries will become frustrated by unfairness brought on by, “the President’s short-sighted and short-lived program.”
Decatur state Representative Dan Caulkins said the governor is leveling an unwarranted political attack and is acting inappropriate and unprofessional. He noted the program has $44 billion nationally available for a short-term basis. Caulkins said that instead of being critical of the President, Governor Pritzker should instead focus on fixing the state’s problems. “This plan was implemented as a bridge to help people get off of unemployment and encourage them to get back to work,” Caulkins said.
Illinois had more than 1.4 million first-time unemployment filers in the weeks following the beginning of March. The numbers of new filers had recently declined week by week, but two weeks ago there was an increase of around 3,000 new filings.
