Illinois is running a debt in its unemployment fund balance. And it’s costing the state millions in interests. The fund, which includes money borrowed from the federal government was rapidly depleted during the pandemic. But the bill has been due for a while and the state hasn’t made a payment yet.

Republican Rep. Tom Demmer says lawmakers need to prioritize using federal COVID relief dollars to pay off the existing debt.

The loan to steady the unemployment fund from the federal government was $4.2 billion.