Budget Stalemate Moves To Court As Political Rhetoric Ratchets Up

 A stalemate that's left Illinois without a budget has taken a new political turn. It comes as the Attorney General is asking a court to determine what bills Illinois can pay when the state has no spending authority.

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has been feuding with Democrats, especially Speaker of the Illinois House Michael Madigan. Now Rauner's taking aim at the Speaker's daughter, Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

Lisa Madigan's legal filing cites restrictions in state law. Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration is quoting her motion, and the law, to accuse Attorney General Madigan of trying to block workers' pay. One of the governor's top aides has taken to social media to write that she is "trying to block state employee pay" while "fighting to pay legislators."

Lisa Madigan laughed when I asked her "the governor's office says you are "trying to block full employee pay; is that the case?"

"What we're trying to do is make sure that absolutely everybody gets paid," she said. "But payments have to be made within the law."

Madigan says in order for that to happen, Illinois needs to have a budget. She says it's the legislature and governor's fault that Illinois has none, and is in this position.

A court hearing is set for Tuesday in Cook County.