With state shutdown-related unemployment claims still unresolved, Representative Miller and many of his Republican colleagues this week called for the immediate reopening of local Department of Employment Security Offices to help address the needs of families in our communities.
Acting Director Thomas Chan Illinois Department of Employment Security
Dear Director Chan,
During this unprecedented time, we know that your agency is doing all that you can with your limited resources. However, the people of the State of Illinois are suffering. We as a State are failing our residents who must rely on unemployment benefits through no fault of their own.
In addition to the 360,000 calls per day your office receives, staff from District Offices of State Senators and Representatives send the Department additional hundreds, if not thousands, of requests for assistance. Currently, constituents are waiting an average of 10 days for a response to our inquiries further exacerbating their desperation and leaving them without much needed answers. Constituents deserve the additional resources available to them in your local offices.
As we have stepped forward to Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois plan the Illinois Secretary of State has re-opened driver’s services facilities to better meet the needs of the citizens of our state as an essential business. With the historic need for unemployment benefits, the question has to be asked why IDES has not done the same? Safety measures to protect staff and citizens can be enforced just as in other businesses and government offices.
Sincerely,
Joe Sosnowski Dan Brady
State Representative, 69th District Deputy Republican Leader, 105th District
Tom Demmer Tony McCombie
Deputy Republican Leader, 90th District State Representative, 71st District
Grant Wehrli Andrew Chesney
State Representative, 41st District State Representative, 89th District
Lindsay Parkhurst David Severin
State Representative, 79th District State Representative, 117th District
Terri Bryant Patrick Windhorst
State Representative, 115th District State Representative, 118th District
David Welter Jeff Keicher
State Representative, 75th District State Representative, 70th District
Keith Wheeler Mike Murphy
State Representative, 50th District State Representative, 99th District
Darren Bailey Mark Batinick
State Representative, 109th District State Representative, 97th District
Tom Weber Avery Bourne
State Representative, 64th District State Representative, 95th District
Tom Bennett Amy Grant
State Representative, 106th District State Representative, 42nd District
Brad Halbrook Chris Miller
State Representative, 102nd District State Representative, 110th District
Tim Butler Randy Frese
State Representative, 87th District State Representative, 94th District
Charlie Meier Dan Caulkins
State Representative, 108th District State Representative, 101st District