Eye On Illinois: State making progress on paying down unemployment debt

Good authorities information isn’t all the time flashy, however it nonetheless warrants consideration.

The Illinois Division of Employment Safety just lately introduced the unemployment insurance coverage belief fund steadiness can afford $450 million to pay down federal loans incurred throughout COVID-19 mitigation, which Gov. JB Pritzker stated reduces the remaining steadiness by 25% and may save about $10 million on curiosity funds over one yr.

State Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, stated the cost is feasible as a result of low unemployment claims yielded a $1.2 billion surplus. Pritzker additional vowed to wipe the rest of the debt by the tip of 2022, which requires negotiation involving his workplace, lawmakers, employers and workforce representatives with a view to stave off a change in federal unemployment tax credit that can enhance the quantity employers owe to the tune of $21 per employee.

So work stays. Illinois is just not immune from fraud within the system, exacerbated throughout early pandemic phases, and it’s by no means exhausting to seek out individuals who wield any unemployment statistics towards incumbent management. However this surplus, cost and financial savings are big-picture wins for the state’s financial outlook.

Shrewd Democrats won’t simply marketing campaign on this improvement, however achieve this with simply understood messages.

EARLY VOTING: With 40 days earlier than Nov. 8, early voting has opened throughout Illinois. Registration is accessible at ova.elections.il.gov by way of the tip of Oct. 23. That web page features a hyperlink for checking the standing of an lively registration, which additionally reveals voting district info and polling locations – together with early voting websites and mail-in poll drop packing containers – in addition to whether or not grace interval registration is accessible on website as much as and together with on election day.

Monday’s mail included a letter from our county clerk together with an software for everlasting vote by mail standing. There was a useful letter explaining the adjustments underneath 2021 laws, and though I plan to vote in-person when sensible, it’s good to see the appliance and be capable to perceive the place the clerk’s workplace and an election choose will likely be concerned, to know signatures will likely be checked towards these provided throughout registration and a reminder there are legal penalties for mendacity on the shape.

Whereas web sites are useful, it’s all the time attainable to easily name or go to your native election authority (sometimes the county clerk’s workplace) to deal with any questions.

ON THIS DAY: Enrico Fermi was born Sept. 29, 1901, in Rome, and although New York and Italy have their claims on his legacy, Fermi’s work as a nuclear physicist on the College of Chicago and Argonne Nationwide Laboratory are important to the state and American historical past. Although simply 53 when he died of abdomen most cancers in his Chicago dwelling, Fermi ranks among the many most influential scientists of the twentieth century and stays an Illinois establishment.

• Scott T. Holland writes about state authorities points for Shaw Media. Comply with him on Twitter @sth749. He will be reached at sholland@shawmedia.com.