The governors in Michigan, New York and Washington last week asked the Trump administration for permission to pay unemployment benefits to all those affected , including those who are still working. They said if that request is rejected, the Labor Department should work with Congress to change the law. Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week he would provide benefits to those reporting to work regardless of Washington's objection.

Asked about following suit, Pritzker said, "We're looking at all the possibilities."

The governor favors border security, calling for "comprehensive" immigration reform. But he derided Trump's stubbornness over what he termed an "unnecessary wall."

"It's not just Democrats affected by this shutdown. Republicans are being affected all across the nation, all across the state of Illinois," Pritzker said. "It doesn't matter what political party you belong to, people are being hurt, and it shouldn't be that in order to get some political end, we're hurting everybody in the nation."

Pritzker noted that he instructed his administration to offer winter heating-bill aid to the furloughed workers and has been in contact with Illinois banks and credit unions to urge them to offer deferred payments or no interest on existing loans the workers already have. He said his staff has also been consulting with public safety and human services agencies, as well as critical operations such as airports, to develop plans for handling problems that arise from a prolonged shutdown.

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