Manar Says Paying State Employees Is Common Sense

Legislation in Springfield would authorize the state of Illinois to pay $63 million owed to over 24,000 public employees over the last seven years. 

Illinois State Senator Andy Manar says it is common sense that these workers should be paid. 

“This issue isn’t a partisan issue. This is something that I think we just have to live up to our contractual obligations," said Manar. "When employees do work, they should be paid." 

Governor Rauner vetoed a spending bill in 2016 that would have addressed the issue. 

Now, Manar, a Democrat from Bunker Hill, says he is sponsoring a new bill, SB2269, along with Republican Senator Sam McCann, so workers can finally get that money. Manar is working to get this new bill through the Illinois Senate.

“This is the oldest bill in state government that hasn’t been paid, and this is something that we should put behind us," said Manar. 

According to the bill, $40 million is owed to the Department of Corrections and another portion, $17 million, would go to state workers in the Department of Human Services. 

Manar says that it has been a struggle working with the Rauner administration to get numbers that accurately reflect how much money is needed.

With updated numbers, he says he would be willing to update the bill as well. 

Manar’s comments came during an appearance on the public radio talk show, The 21st.