Who Won't Get Paid If The Illinois Budget Stalemate Drags On
From Crain's Chicago Business
One day after Gov. Bruce Rauner harshly criticized the ethics of Democratic legislative leaders, his appointee as comptroller adopted a more matter-of-fact tone today as she outlined the bills she could not pay if the state budget impasse persists.
Leslie Munger, named to the office after the death of Judy Baar Topinka, said during a news conference that state workers, Medicaid providers and other contractors would be among those whose payments would stop on July 1, the start of the state's fiscal year.
After that date, the Illinois Constitution restricts Munger's ability to pay bills if a budget is not enacted and signed into law, she said. Despite that provision, her office would continue to make other payments, including amounts due bondholders and state retirees, she said.
While she urged the Legislature to adopt a balanced budget and Rauner's legislative agenda, she did not specifically accuse the Democrats of holding up a deal, even though it was clear they were the targets of her remarks.
“I am here to urge the General Assembly to work in good faith with the governor to reach an agreement on a balanced budget and avoid an additional and unnecessary hardship to our state,” she said during the news conference at the Thompson Center.
“Every member of the General Assembly has been sent to Springfield by the voters of their districts to do a job,” she said, noting that the state constitution requires the passage of a balanced budget.
“As of today, they have failed to do their job,” she said.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From Crain's Chicago Business
One day after Gov. Bruce Rauner harshly criticized the ethics of Democratic legislative leaders, his appointee as comptroller adopted a more matter-of-fact tone today as she outlined the bills she could not pay if the state budget impasse persists.
Leslie Munger, named to the office after the death of Judy Baar Topinka, said during a news conference that state workers, Medicaid providers and other contractors would be among those whose payments would stop on July 1, the start of the state's fiscal year.
After that date, the Illinois Constitution restricts Munger's ability to pay bills if a budget is not enacted and signed into law, she said. Despite that provision, her office would continue to make other payments, including amounts due bondholders and state retirees, she said.
While she urged the Legislature to adopt a balanced budget and Rauner's legislative agenda, she did not specifically accuse the Democrats of holding up a deal, even though it was clear they were the targets of her remarks.
“I am here to urge the General Assembly to work in good faith with the governor to reach an agreement on a balanced budget and avoid an additional and unnecessary hardship to our state,” she said during the news conference at the Thompson Center.
“Every member of the General Assembly has been sent to Springfield by the voters of their districts to do a job,” she said, noting that the state constitution requires the passage of a balanced budget.
“As of today, they have failed to do their job,” she said.
Read more in our daily News Update...