Lawmakers Draft Plans To Keep Illinois Paychecks Flowing
Illinois Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, left, speaks to reporters, while Illinois Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, right, looks on, during a news conference on education funding during a news conference at the Illinois State Capitol Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. Seth Perlman/Associated Press
A group of Republican lawmakers want to set up automatic payments to state workers. It would ensure Illinois’ employees get paid regardless of whether there’s a budget. This is after Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a court challenge last week. That said if lawmakers don’t act, state employees would lose pay. It could also shut down the government.
State Rep. Avery Bourne is from Raymond. She's among 16 House Republicans who have filed a plan to pay government employees. Bourne says taking a shutdown off the table will provide stability.
“Let’s take this political football away," she said. "Let’s ensure state employees their pay will be there. Let’s avoid a government shutdown because nobody benefits if that happens, and let’s move forward.”
Bourne says Madigan’s move to hang a shutdown over the heads of lawmakers is pure gamesmanship.
Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan's spokesman Steve Brown calls Scherer's bill a "precaution" against the attorney general's action.
Links
- IL Attorney General Asks Court To Stop State Worker Pay
- Optimistic Tone, Praise For Senate Budget Efforts In Governor’s State Of The State Address
- Compromise Budget Plan Could See Action This Week In State Senate
- State Senators Say Democrats’ Support Of Leader Term Limits Is Show Of ‘Good Faith’ For Budget Plan
- Despite Pivot To Economy, Madigan Still Says Budget Is Top Issue
- State Senate Budget Compromise Put On Hold
- Top Senators Said To Be Negotiating An End To Illinois’ Budget Stalemate
- Domestic Workers Protected Under New Illinois Law; Stopgap Budget Expires
- As Rauner Touts Accomplishments, Dems Hear ‘Alternative Facts’
- Cullerton, Radogno Promise Budget-Package Vote Wednesday
- New Legislature, Same Old Problem In Illinois: No Budget
- Frerichs End-Of-Year Part Two: Budget Impasse, Combining Offices, What’s Next
- As Budget Impasse Continues, Some Illinois Colleges Dipping Into Students MAP Grant Money
- A Look Back On Illinois’ Budget Stalemate In 2016
- More Meetings On State Budget, No Apparent Progress