Prairie State Wire

Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) has announced that he may launch an initiative to recall Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker if the governor does not take action to fix the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) website and allow residents to file unemployment claims.

With millions of Illinois residents out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IDES unemployment portal has been a lifeline for those able to access it and have their claims processed. 

But some Illinoisans have failed in their attempt to get through.

IDES has been beset by technical issues that have led thousands of residents to have their benefits delayed. This has resulted in frustration and concern for their financial futures. 

Additionally, a data breach in the pandemic unemployment portal’s processing system on May 15, releasing an unknown number of independent contractors’ personal information to the public.

IDES released a statement to WREX saying it partnered with Deloitte to create the portal and both are investigating the breach. The breach was revealed when a claimant failed to access personal information from other claimants. They notified IDES of the issue and it was corrected within an hour.

“Managing this site is the one job and the one responsibility the Governor has in all of this and he can’t even do that," Representative Skillicorn said. "The level of incompetence here is incredible."  

Skillicorn has served in the Illinois General Assembly since January 2017, and serves on several committees, including Appropriations General Service, Cities and Villages, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics and IT, Labor and Commerce and Insurance. 

In his second term, Skillicorn’s priorities include pension reform and tax relief. He and his wife live in East Dundee, volunteer with a local therapy dog group and animal rescue, and attend Fox Valley Church, in Dundee. He has lived in the Fox River Valley his entire life.