Pekin, IL… State Representative Travis Weaver (IL-93) released the following statement regarding the Illinois Auditor General’s report that the Illinois Department of Unemployment Security (IDES) paid out $5.24 billion in overpayments, including fraudulent unemployment claims, between 2020 and 2022:
“It is unacceptable to see that the IDES paid out billions in overpayments, including fraudulent unemployment claims, during the pandemic,” said Weaver. “Whenever taxpayer funds are being spent, there needs to be meticulous accountability on where it’s going and who it’s going to. This is exactly why I stand for small government. This money could’ve been used to fix our failing roads or even pay down our ballooning pension debt. Instead, it was wasted by a bloated and ineffective government. This mismanagement is embarrassing, and I’m committed to not only correcting it but ensuring it never happens again. ”
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