By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – State Sen. Bill Brady is trying to assure state workers they will get their paychecks, one way or another, even though there are still no signs of a budget agreement anytime soon.
“I think (workers should) do what the Rauner administration has asked you to do, you come to work and you do you job,” Brady said. “I think there’s a little bit of uncertainty, quite a bit of uncertainty, depending on who you are.”
PODCAST: Listen to Brady interview with Dan Swaney and Colleen Reynolds on WJBC.
The Rauner administration has said the state will do all it can get pay state workers, though Attorney General Lisa Madigan said the government can’t legally issue paychecks.
Brady told WJBC’s Dan Swaney the Rauner administration has made arrangements with at least one credit union to offer no-interest bridge loans to state workers in case the state can’t pay the workers.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union has gone to court to force the state to deliver those paychecks. The first one are due July 15.
Illinois begins its first full week without a state budget and there’s no end in sight to the impasse. The Senate passed a one-month budget last week that the House failed to pass. Brady said a one-month budget won’t cut it, nor will a 12-month budget suffice, especially one that’s nearly $4 billion out of balance.
“Until the Democratic-controlled General Assembly comes to grips with the fact we don’t have the money they’ve been spending, we can’t and aren’t going go forward with an agreement that’s not constitutional and that doesn’t work for the people of Illinois,” Brady said.
The House meets on Wednesday to reconsider the one-month budget. The Senate reconvenes next week.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
